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HISTORY 



OF 



EOXBURY TOWN. 



BY CHARLES M. ELLIS. 



. ,,tV of Co^^, 



BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL G. DRAKE. 

1847. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, 

By Charles M. Ellis, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 



H. Mann, Printer, Dedham, Mass. 



PART I. 



THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN 



NOTICE. 

Another volume will complete the history of the Town, down 
to the date of the City Charter. The object has been, in this, to 
give the Early History. But no distinct line of division can be 
drawn. Much matter has necessarily been reserved for the ap- 
pendix which will be added to the second part. The plan of the 
work has been, in order to secure for it the only merits such an 
one can ever have, accuracy and completeness. The materials 
that exist for gaining these ends are so much scattered, they are 
so often found where no one could have supposed they existed, 
that no diligence could ferret them out ; but they are glad- 
ly furnished when it is known that use can be made of them. 
Since the last pages of the manuscript were sent to press, I 
have to acknowledge the receipt of several valuable communica- 
tions. Any such is a great favor. It is my hope that all who 
can procure me access to materials that will aid in completing or 
correcting the account of the Town, will do so, so that the ends 
of this work will be secured. 

C. M. ELLIS. 
January 8, 1848. 



HISTORY OF ROXBURY. 



CHAPTER I. 

Introduction. — So7irces of the History of the Town. 

The object of a town history is to gather up and 
record family, local, village details. Part are those of 
every day life. Part belong to general history, but 
are so minute or multitudinous as to escape its grasp. 
Yet all history is made up of these, and each, and the 
group of each town, may illustrate it, as the life of 
each man will give some insight into the spirit of his 
time. There is an interest attached to these accounts 
of small places, of the same sort as that which is ex- 
cited by the biography of an individual. We like to 
know the motives, reasons and method of a man's ac- 
tion, as every child wishes to see a watch opened. 
In general men care less for the result, however great, 
than for the petty moving causes in operation. And 
the idea that each man is a wheel in the great ma- 
chine, weighs more with men than they think. But, 
after all, the chief interest attached to these matters 
is of a very different sort, and, if this were the place, 



6 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PART I. 

it might be shown to be somewhat rational and not 
altogether useless, apart from all historical specula- 
tion. We love to know the origin of those we spring 
from, what they did, how they dressed, labored and 
worshipped. Most men have local attachment so 
strong that it invests some spot, endeared by associa- 
tion, with controlling interest. The old church, the 
old homestead, the old school, or something of the 
sort, bring back dear recollections to every man, and 
he will find pleasure in all that relates thereto. 

I have endeavored to collect here such facts as may 
gratify these natural feelings, and such as may illus- 
trate history, without pretending to assume its digni- 
ty, or be more than the incidents in the life of a little 
town. 

There is in the town, in the records and papers of 
the town, church and school, much new matter, though 
they are very meagre in many respects. The Town 
Records for the first few years are imperfect. They 
begin with a half obliterated and worn out memoran- 
dum of four lines, about the garrison, of a date seven- 
teen years after the settlement, (1647.) Then fol- 
lows a memorandum of the choice of the Captain, 
Lieut, and three brethren to " order town affairs," 
and an order for an allotment of lands and salaries 
without any date — then a vote appointing a commit- 
tee to repair the church and also assessors, then a 
vote conferring powers somewhat plenary, viz : that 
" these men shall have for ye present year, full power 
to make and execute such orders as they in their ap- 
prehension shall think to be conducive to the good of 
the town" — then a much mutilated page about dig- 



Part I.] history of roxburv. 7 

ging "rocks" and stones out of the highway — then a 
meeting at brother Johnsons, about the Synod's act — 
then some old scraps from the fire act laying a fine of 
^ and 12 pence on such as have not ladders to give 
ready passage to the tops of the houses in case of fire. 
These are all, down to the year 1652. 

From that time the records have been regularly 
kept. The earlier ones however are meagre and im- 
perfect. The earliest have no attestation. Then 
down to 1666, they are attested by the five men. In 
1666 a Town clerk was first chosen, but he merely 
wrote the records without attesting them. The first 
signature by the clerk is that of Edward Dorr in 
1717. 

There is a tradition that the old records of the 
town were a long while ago burned up, or else de- 
stroyed in the revolution. The dates have got a lit- 
tle confused. But so it is that in the lapse of few 
generations, it has become uncertain whether this 
event was seventy years or two centuries ago. One 
tradition is that the first records of the town were 
burnt when the second meeting house was burnt 
down. Men expressed a doubt, in speaking of it, 
whether they were ever destroyed. But I think it 
quite certain that the earliest records were destroyed 
by fire, in 1645. 

Under the date of 1652 there is entry which can 
be partially decyphered although the edges are gone. 

'•The towne booke wherein most mens lands being wrote ■ 

Gods providence being burned thereby much dammedg may . 

to all men, to prevent dammedg as aforesayd ■ • 

dered by the town of Roxbury that there shall be five 



8 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

be chosen to do iheir best in order to set down 

land given them by the town or tiiat may belong — — 

thence other ways to make returne unto ye towne 



three month, as far as this may be accomplished for the- 



of dammedg as aforesayd & alsoe to record hie ways and 

other town privileges, 17 of 11 mo 1652." 

The Transcript, as it is called, was finished and 
certified in 1654. 

In Eliot's petition to the General Court June 20, 
1669, for a renewal and confirmation of the school 
charter, it is recited that "our first book and charter 
were burned in ye burning of John Johnsons house 
and by reason of the death of sundry of the donors 
and the alienation of the tenements we are under 
this defect that some of the names of the donors are 
not unto this 2d book personally which were to the 
first." 

The second book and agreement are still preserved 
and bear date "the last of August 1645." 

In John Eliot's diary [which will be referred to] is 
this record, viz : 

"1645. Toward ye end of ye 1st month (called 
March) there happened, by God's providence a very 
dreadful fire in Roxbury streete. None knoweth how 
it was kindled, but being a fierce wind it suddenly 
prevailed. And in this man's house was a good part 
of ye county magazine of powder of 17 or 18 bar- 
rels which made ye people that none durst come to 
save ye house or goods till it was blown up & by that 
time ye fire had taken ye barns & outhouses (which 
were many &. great) so that none were saved. In 
this fire were strong observations of God's provi- 
dence, to ye neighbours and towne, for ye wind at 



Part 1.] history of roxbury. 9 

first stood to carry ye fire to other howses but sud- 
denly turned it fi*om all other howses only carrying it 
to ye out houses & barns thereby. 

And it was a fierce wind & thereby drave ye ele- 
ment back from ye neighbors howses which in a 
calm time would, by ye great heate have been set on 
fire. 

But above all ye preservation of all people from 
hurt & other howses from fire at ye blowing up of ye 
powder, many living in great danger yet none hurt & 
sundry howses set on fire by ye blow, but all 
quenched, thro God's mercy in christ." 

Considering therefore that the early records were 
all kept for one body, that those of the school, and 
those having the records of lands were both burned 
and that the Town Records prior to the time of this 
fire are not in existence, there can be little doubt 
that they were also burnt up. Probably the "old 
Towne Booke" named in the note respecting the 
Transcript, contained the whole respecting titles, the 
schoole and the towne, and the petition some twenty 
years after the fire was caused by some question 
arising respecting the charter or the agreement of 
the school. 

The ^^Ancient Transcript^'' is an ancient book 
which contains a list of the lands owned by the re- 
spective inhabitants. This record is of great value in 
tracing the titles of individuals. The present book 
is probably not the first but a copy made about 1666 
to 1670 by Goodman JLienisoii. 

At the end of this volume is what appears to have 
been part of another older book bound up with it, in 
2 



10 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaKT I. 

which is a memorandum that it was "bought in 1639 
& paid for by Vote of Town, fower shillings for entry 
therein of weighty business." 

I discovered one loose leaf in this volume, of great 
interest. A particular account of this leaf will be 
given in another connection. The Town Register 
of births, marriages and deaths, seems to have been 
copied up to 1654 in one hand. Very likely by Mr. 
Dudley. From 1690 to 1706, entries have also been 
copied into this volume from small paper books kept 
by the clerk. 

There is a volume kept by the clergyman of the 
first church which, in its strange medley, has records 
of interest. It has often been referred to. It is val- 
uable for its records of matters belonoins; to town 
and family histories. It contains a receipt for making 
ink — an anagram on Mrs. Tomson — Harvard memo- 
rial — laws as to fashions, particularly the long hair 
which was an abomination to round heads — certain 
propositions concerning church membership, baptism, 
&c. — a list of church members from the formation of 
the church to 1775 — a record of the baptisms and 
deaths from 1644 to 1750 — a diary from 1642 to 
1677 — a record of the pastors of the church, and 
some parish votes and donations. 

The list of church members seems to have been 
made sometime after the formation of the church. I 
should judge not far from 1650. Besides the dates, 
this record contains facts concerning the families of 
the first settlers and in many instances accounts of 
their characters. 

It is said that all the ancient records were burned^ 



Fart L] history of roxbury. 11 

and that the inhabitants afterwards came together 
and gave in an account of their families, the births, 
marriages and deaths, as fully as they could, and 
handed in the description of their lands for the Tran- 
script. The absence of any books prior to the date 
of the fire, and the mode in which the oldest records 
are made up confirm the tradition. A gentleman of 
Roxbury, distinguished for his antiquarian tastes, re- 
members to have read this account in an anniversary 
sermon preached by the first Mr. Walter, who must 
have known many of the first settlers. I have not 
been able to find any copy of this sermon. 

The diary notes the chief events of the day, very 
much after the style of the remarkable events in 
some of our almanacs. Some of it is trifling, but it 
is valuable for verifying dates, and chiefly so as illus- 
trating the character of John Eliot. 

The records of the several later parishes and of 
the schools contain much that is interesting. 

Besides the various records there are many old pa- 
pers still preserved by members of the older families 
of the town, deeds, wills, letters and documents of 
one sort and another. Most of these have been 
found in old chests in the midst of garret dust and 
lumber. No doubt many such have been destroyed 
as cumbersome rubbish. Few care for these me- 
mentos of early days. But some preserve them, and 
I am indebted to many for rendering me valuable fa- 
cilities from such materials for this work. I am 
especially indebted to a few, who take an interest in 
such matters, and who have raked, out of these old 
heaps, things worth preserving. 



CHAPTER II. 

The first Settlement. 

The first settlement of Roxbury was in 1630. It 
is possible that some straggling pioneers of the whites 
may have been here before. There is no record of 
any known. The fact that the emigrants of 1630, 
on their arrival^ found settlers scattered about the 
bay, "some at Dorchester and some on the other side 
of the River Charles," that some spots in Roxbury 
would be likely to be chosen quite as soon as the 
spots that are known to have been inhabited by 
whites, and that the colonists would not have been 
likely to try to prepare for their first winter in a spot 
where there was no sign of a hut or clearing, this 
alone leads me to say it is possible that there may 
have been some squatters here before them. The 
town dates, however, from 1630. Most of its settlers 
arrived within a few years from that time. The first 
came from England with Winthrop with those who 
came over when the Massachusetts charter was 
brought over, and a home trading company formed 
into a foreign provincial government. Some of them 
were signers of the Cambridge agreement of August 
26, 1629. That simple writing imported more than 



Part I.] history of roxburv. 13 

they dreamed, and may now illustrate their charac- 
ter. 



"Upon due consideration of the state of the Plantation now in 
hand for New England, wherein we, whose names are hereunto 
subscribed, have engaged ourselves, and having weighed the 
greatness of the work in regard of the consequence, God's glory 
and the Church's good, as also in regard of the difficulties and 
discouragements which in all probabilities must be forecast upon 
the prosecution of this business ; considering withal, that this 
whole adventure grows upon the joint confidence we have in 
each other's fidelity and resolution herein, so as no man of us 
would have adventured without assurance of the rest; now for 
the better encouragement of ourselves and others that shall join 
with us in this action, and to the end that every man may with- 
out scruple dispose of his estate and affairs as may best fit his 
preparation for this voyage ; it is fully and faithfully agreed 
amongst us, and every of us doth hereby freely and sincerely 
promise and bind himself, on the word of a christian, and in the 
presence of God, Vi^ho is the searcher of all hearts, that we will 
so really endeavour the prosecution of this work, as by God's 
assistance, we will be ready in our persons, and with such of our 
several families as are to go with us, and such provision as we 
are able conveniently to furnish ourselves withal, to embark for 
the said plantation by the first of March next, at such port or 
ports of this land as shall be agreed upon by the Company, to 
the end to pass the seas (under God's protection) to inhabit and 
continue in New England : Provided always, that before the 
last of September next, the whole government, together with the 
patent for the said plantation, be first, by an order of Court, le- 
gally transferred and established to remain with us and others 
which shall inhabit upon the said Plantation, and provided also, 
that if any shall be hindered by any such just and inevitable let 
or other cause, to be allowed by three parts of four of these 
whose names are hereunto subscribed, then such persons, for 
such times, and during such lets to be discharged from this bond. 
And we do further promise, every one for himself, that shall fail 
to be ready through his own default by the day appointed, to pay 



14 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

for every day's default the sum of £3, to the use of the rest of 
the company who shall be ready by the same day and lime. 
This was done by order of Court, the 29th of August, 1629. 
Richard Saltonstall, Thomas Sharpe, 

Thomas Dudley, Increase Nowell, 

William Vassall, John Winlhrop; 

Nicholas West, William Pinchon, 

Isaac Johnson, Kellam Browne, 

John Hurafrey, William Colbron. 

The exact date of the arrival of the first settlers of 
Roxburj is not known. A large number of vessels 
came out in 1630. The first arrived in May, and the 
arrivals continued till the fall of the year. The trials 
of that season fell heavy. " We found the colony in 
a sad and unexpected condition," says Thomas Dud- 
ley, " above eighty of them being dead the winter 
before ; and many of those alive weak and sick ; all 
the corn and bread amongst them all hardly sufficient 
to feed them a fortnight." Contagious diseases seized 
on the emigrants on their voyage that year. When 
they arrived they were feeble, sick and dying daily of 
fevers and the scurvy. The exposure and hardships 
they were forced to endure after landing only multi- 
plied their affliction. They were so weak that they 
could not carry iheir baggage to the place where they 
meant to build a fort and settle together. Having no 
time to deliberate, being forced to provide some shel- 
ter before the winter should surprise them, they dis- 
persed themselves in small bands about the bay, to 
shift as best they might. One of these bands, whose 
head is said to have been William Pynchon chose a 
place midway between Dorchester and Boston, for 
their habitation, a spot l wo miles from J3oston, whicli 



Part I.] history of roxbi^v. 15 

they named Rocksbur}/ and Rocksburie, or Rocks- 
brough, Roxbury. This was the origin of the town. 
Jt was probably in June 1630. The first birth re- 
corded is July 10, 1630j John Crafts, son of Griffin 
Crafts. 

William Pynchon is often spoken of as the founder 
of the town. He was one of the most influential 
men, and happened to be named first in the records 
of the members of the first church. But I see no 
reason why he should be called the founder of the 
place. In the records he is styled "one of the first 
foundation." There were many of as much weight 
as he, whether we regard wealth, character, author- 
ity or energy in the prosecution of the enterprise. 

Besides Pynchon we know from the church records 
that Thomas Lambe, Robert Cole, William Chase, 
George Alcock, Mr. Francis Pynchon, and Thomas 
Rawlings were amongst those who came here in 
1630, that, in 1631, there arrived Thomas Wakeman, 
John Carman, John Eliot, Valentine Prentice, Rich- 
ard Lyman ; — 

In 1632, John Leavins, Margery Hammond, Mar- 
garet Denison, Wm. Heath, Robert Gamlin, Thomas 
Woodforde, William Curtis, Ann Shelly, Rebecca 
Short, Mary Blatt, Wm. Hills, Robert Gamlin jr. — 

In 1633, John Moody, Nicholas Parker, Philip 
Sherman, Thomas Willson, Joshua Hues, Thomas 
Hills, John Graves, Elizabeth Hinds, Elizabeth Bal- 
lard, Margaret Huntingdon ; — 

In 1634, John Stow, Abraham Newell; — 

In 1635, John Ruggles, John Cheney; — 



16 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

In 1636, Edward Porter, William Vassaile, John 
Roberts ; — 

In 1637, Thomas Ruggles, William Chandler, Jo- 
seph Astwood. 

There is " A Recorde of such as adjoyned them- 
selves unto the fellowship of this Church of Christ at 
Roxborough ; as also of such children as they had 
when they joyned and of such as were borne unto 
them under the holy covenant of this church, who are 
most properly the seede of this Church." 

This record, from the beginning till 1650 has the 
names of 301 members, the number of their children 
not being included. Most of the names have no date 
and the time of their arrival cannot be fixed. 

From the interesting gleanings of Mr. Savage, we 
learn that the records in England give the names of 
some who " imbarqued " in the Hopewell, Master 
Wm. Burdick, in April 1635, vi2;. John Astwood, 
husbandman, aged 26 — Jo. Ruggles, 10 — Jo. Rug- 
gles, shoemaker, 44 — Barbaric Ruggles, uxor, 30 — 
Jo. Ruggles, 2 — Elizabeth Elliott, 8 — Giles Payson, 
26 — Isaac Morris, 9 — Jo. Bell, 13— Lawrence Whit- 
temore, 63 — Elizabeth Whittemore, 57 — Isaac Dis- 
brough, 18— Elizabeth Elliott, 30— Phillip Elliott, 2. 

April 29th, in the Elizabeth & Ann, was Richard 
Goare, 17. 

June 17, in the Abigail, came Richard Graves, 23. 

In the Blessing, William Vassall, 42, Margaret 
Vassall. 

In the James, in July, John Johnson, 26. 

In the Hopewell, Sep. 11, Isack Heath, harness- 



V 



Part 1.] history of roxburv. 17 

maker, 50 — Elizabeth Heath, 40 — Wm. Lyon, 14 — 
Thos. Bull, 25— [? if not Bell.] 

The dates of the arrivals for the first few years as 
given in the church book are very imperfect. There 
are many births recorded which show that various 
families arrived here which are nof noticed. But I 
cannot follow them out here. 

In the Ancient Transcript, there is a loose leaf, 
somewhat worn and obscure, but in tolerable preser- 
vation, written about the year 1639, at any rate, be- 
tween 1638 and 1640, as appear from the names and 
hand writing. Being, by nearly ten years the oldest 
record in the Town Books, and containing an accu- 
rate and, no doubt, complete list of the inhabitants, 
it is here copied. It was after 1638 because James 
Astwood came then ; and before 1640 because George 
Alcock died then. 



"A 


note of ye 


estates and persons of ye 


t inhi 


ibitants of Rox 


bury. 


Acres. 


Persons. 






Estate. 


3 





Edward Pason 


1 






6 


2 


John Tatman 


o 


6 





7 


Obscure. 


John Stonnard 


2 


Obscure. 


6 


11 


Martin Stebbins 


2 




(< 


7 


(( 


Giles Pason 


2 


10 


93 04 


6 


2 


Lawrence Whittemore 


2 


2 


06 OS 


10 


Obscure. 


Richard Peacock 


3 


8 


00 00 


>/ 4 





Edward Bugby 


3 


17 


00 


11 


Obscure. 


John Levins 


3 


17 


00 


Obs. 


2 


Edwn. Anderson 


3 


01 


00 00 


10 


00 00 


Christopher Peak? 


3 


06 


OS 00 


/ 5 


02 00 


John Ruggles 


2 


4 


13 00 


12 


02 00 


Richard Pepper 


4 


3 


00 00 


12 


Obscure. 


Edward Rigi^es 
3 


4 


Obscure. 



18 



HISTORY OF ROXBURY. 



[Part I. 



13 


Obscure. 


William Webb 


4 


2 


Obscure. 


13 


<( 




Edward Bridge 


4 


2 


Cl 


12 


i( 




Thomas Ruggles 


4 


1 


15 00 


14 


i( 




Robert Seaver 


4 


17 


06 00 


12 


(( 




Thomas Griggs 


4 


00 


00 OO 


12 


(( 




John Hall 


4 


Obscure. 


12 


(( 




J»hn Trumble 






(1 


17 


2 




John Barwell 


5 


17 


10 04 


15 


i( 




Abraham How 


5 


01 


00 " 


15 


(1 




John Mathew 


5 


01 


00 00 


15 


2 





John Bowles 


5 


07 


10 oa 


15 


2 





Isaac Johnson 


5 


02 


00 00 


16 


2 





Ralph Hemingway 


5 


9 


14 08 


V 15 


Obscure, 


John Curteis 


5 


00 


00 00 


15 


(( 




Arthur Gary 


5 


02 


Obscure. 


18 


(1 




Thomas Waterman 


6 


01 


16 08 


20 


(i 




Thomas Pigge 


6 


17 


00 00 


20 


(< 




Samuel Finch 


5 


14 




22 


frt 




Widow Hugbone 


7 


06 




V 12 


(( 




Abraham Newell 


7 


07 




22 


i( 




Wm. Chandler 


7 


06 




21 


2 




Robert Gamblin 


7 


03 




y/ 21 






John Perry 


7 


Obscjire. 


21 






Abraham Smith 


7 




li 


24 


2 




John Pettit 


8 




K 


24 


2 




William Cheney 


8 




l( 


24 






SamuelChapin 


S 




:( 


25 


2 




William Perkins 


8 




(( 


25 






Robert Williams 


8 




i( 


26 






John Evans 


8 




(( 


27 


2 




Daniel Brewer 


9 




it 


28 






James Astwood 


9 




<( 


27 






Edward Porter 


9. 




11 


y 28 


2 




John Miller 


9 




<( 


27 






John Roberts 


9 




(( 


V 30 






Griffin Crafts 


10 




u- 


37 






John Watson 


12 




(1 


37 






Thomas Lamb 


12 




u 



rART 


1-J 




HISTORY OF ROXBURY. 






1^ 


39 






John Eliot 


13 


Olscure. 


39 






William Curtiss 


13 




It 








Obscure 00 acres. 












Olscure. 




Thomas Bell 


12 


IS 


02 


00 




(( 




George Holmes 


13 


10 


00 


00 




(( 




Samuel Hugborne 


14 


17 


00 


00 


SI 







William Park 


15 


1 


10 


00 


• 






John Johnson- 


15 


12 


06 


08 




lOS 




John Gore 


15 


16 


00 


00 




204 




Isaac Morell 


17 


00 


00 


00 




242 




George Alcock 


20 


3 


00 


00 




256 




Elder Heath 


21 


18 


03 


04 




255 




John Stow 


21 


02 


17 


04 




267 




William Dennison 


24 


07 


06 


08 


y 


298 




Joseph Weld 


23 


03 


15 


00 




288 




Joshua Hewes 


24 


00 


00 


00 




303 




Philip Eliot 


25 


07 


13 


04 


K 


333 


Mr. 


, Thomas Weld 


26 


01 


43 


00 




355 


Mr. 


Thomas Dudley 


26 


10 


00 


00" 



Upon the other side of the foregoing list is the following 
Obscure ■ -- ' 



"Wm. Eliot 8 goats Skidds Elder ISgoats 7kidds 

y^ John Tohnson 6 goats 4 kidds Wm. Dennison 2 " 3 «' 

Isaac Morell 4 goats 3 kidds John Stow 20 " 8 " 

Mr. Sheafe 14 do. 10 kidds John Levins 8 " 8 " 

i/ Edward Bugbee 6 goats 7 kidds Thomas Waterman 7 goats obscure 

John Bugby 2 goats 2 kidds Thomas Freeman 3 

Edward Sheffield 2goatslkidd Richard Peacock 1 " 

William Chandler 1 " 1 " Dorithy 1 1 kidd 

We, whose names are under written, have appointed John 
Burnell, to give \2d. appeace for goats & kidds out of which we 
did appoint him to pay Goodwife Burt for her boy ye full tyme 
that hee ded keepe the goats. 

Isaac Heath 

John Stow." 



20 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

There are lew of the families of the town, except 
the recent comers, who do not trace their descent 
from some of those whose names are here recorded. 
It has been remarked that no people can boast of 
more honorable descent than those of Massachusetts, 
and it is also recorded that " the Roxbury people 
were of the best that came." 

The first year was one of severe toil, and hardship, 
and affliction almost unmitigated. Those who were 
alive at the end of the first summer were worn out 
when winter set in, either with disease or with the 
fatigue of making the first clearing and a hut for shel- 
ter. Food was scarce. The cold was intense. Dud- 
ley, one of the first and richest men in the Bay, had 
no table, and but a single room, and there he wrote 
to the countess of Lincoln the letter that is preserved, 
*' on his knee in that sharp winter," with his family 
pressing to the fireside about him. Mrs. Alcock and 
Mrs. Pynchon died. They could, indeed, " almost 
say there was not a house where there was not one 
dead, and in some houses many." They held many 
fasts. It was a time of gloom. They did " enjoy 
little to be envied, but endured much to be pitied." 
But they came not to plant " for worldly ends" but 
"for spiritual." They did not repine. It was fortu- 
nate indeed for the Roxbury settlement that they 
were " not of the poorer sort." But nothing could 
save them from the hardships of the first season. 

And to add to these, they were in constant danger 
from the natives. The position ot the first settlement 
seems to have been chosen with a view to defence. 
Charges are frequently met with in the town records, 



-•>' • 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 21 

for the first few years, of sums paid for driving away 
Indians. 

Roxbury was thought of the first year as a fit place 
to build a town. December 6th, 1630, the governor 
and assistants met there and agreed to build a town 
fortified on the neck between there and Boston, and 
they appointed a committee to make the necessary 
arrangements. But when the committee met there 
eight days later, they concluded not to build and one 
reason was that " there was no running waters and 
if there were any springs they would not suffice 
the town." They considered also that most had al- 
ready built and if they settled here they would be 
forced to keep two families. 



CHAPTER 111. 

The First Church i7i Roxhury. 

The religious concerns of the people, were, of 
course, the first in importance. They had left the 
comforts of home, and chosen to risk life for their re- 
ligious liberty. The first act of the emigrants on ar- 
riving in this country was the organization of a church. 
The chief bond of the people was, for a long time, 
their religious association. The first thought of each 
town was for the support of religious worship. In 
most towns the formation of a church and a town 
government were simultaneous, if not identical. It 
was probably because of the hardships of the Roxbury 
people that such was not the case here. But, for the 
first two years they had no church of their own. 
They were assessed for the support of the church 
at Charlestown. They joined themselves to the 
church at Dorchester, " until such time as God shall 
give them an opportunity to be a church amongst 
themselves," in the same way as the Muddy River 
(Brookline) people were, for many years, joined to 
their own. 

The first church was gathered in 1632, in July. 
Thomas Wcldc was then " clioscn and invested with 
the pastoral care." 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 23 

John Eliot, now known as the apostle became their 
teacher in November of the same year. 

The first church, and all that was connected with 
it, was to the people, the object of love and affection. 
They were so identified with it, that it would be un- 
pardonable to omit some details which might, other- 
wise, seem trilling. Its complete history for a hun- 
dred years, would be the history of the town. 

A meeting house was built very early. The exact 
date is not known. But at a town meeting in 1647> 
it was voted " that the meeting house be suddenly 
put in safe repaire, and the charges put in the consta- 
bles rates." This is almost the earliest record of any 
town doings. The first house stood in nearly tho 
same spot where Dr. Putnam's now stands.. It was 
a building poorer than any decent barn now in the 
place. It was not shingled without, nor plastered 
within. It had no galleries, pews, or spire. The 
people sat on plain benches without any appointed 
places. The men and the women's seats were on 
opposite sides of the house. It was such as we some- 
times see in frontier towns, or in the woods in the 
southern states, provided for the slaves of the neigh- 
boring plantations. 

In 1654, the town voted to build two galleries in 
the meeting house and that the selectmen "see to it." 

In 1656, the ends of the building were clapboard- 
ed. 

In 1658, the town passed a vote "that ye meeting 
house be repaired, and for warmth and comfort, that 
ye house be shingled" — to build " two galleries with 
three seates," and that ye house " be plastered with- 



24 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

in side with lime and haire, also, for setting out of ye 
house, that some pinacle, or other orniments be set 
upon each end of ye house and that ye bell be 
removed in some covenient place for ye benefit of ye 
towne," "always provided before this be done ye tim- 
bers of ye house be well searched that, if there be 
such defects as some think, our labor may not be in 
vaine." 
>/ In 1659, John Chamberlain (the first sexton no- 
ticed) was to have 50 shillings a year for ringing the 
bell and sweeping and £3 if he would "keep ye 
doore bowlted." 

In 1665, there was complaint that several wanted 
convenient room to sit in the meeting house "to their 
edification by reason of the disturbance the boys 
made in the galleries," and the town desired the se- 
lectmen to advise with the elders about removing the 
boys and building some other gallery, or making 
another "paire stayers" or doing any thing to remedy 
the evil. 

In 1672 there was a "full towne meeting in con- 
sultation about repairing of meeting house" and after 
much debate " with love and condescendency one to 
another," they voted to build a new house not more 
than ten rods from the old one. The Muddy River 
people contributed, towards building the new church, 
104/. 5sh. . 

In 1698, it appears from the records of Brookline, 
the Roxbury people agreed to permit the people of 
Muddy River to worship at their house, and to bear 
one-fifth of the expense, wdiich was £6 45//. and a 



Part 1.] history of roxbury. 25 

meeting, at the Flower-de-luce, kept by Mr. Rug- 
gles, was called to settle that business. 

"A list of the names and sums of our Brethren & Neighbors 
of Muddy river that they contribute towards the erecting of a 
new meeting house in Roxbury. 





Slims. 


£ 


sk. d. 




Thomas. Gardner 


10 


00 00 




John White, Jr. 


10 


00 




Peter Aspinwall 


7 






John Sharpe, Jr. 


5 






Thomas Boistan 


5 






Richard Wolford 


1 


10 




Andrew Gardner 


5 






Joseph White 


3 






Moises Crafts 


2 






Clement Corban 


1 


10 




John Evens 


00 


15 


/ 


John Accers 


1 


10 




John Winchester 


3 


00 




Robert Harrise ^ 


, .4 


00 




John Harise - 


2 


00 


/ 


Benjamin Child 


2 


00 




Denman Meriam 


I 


00 




John Clarke 


3 


00 




Edw.,ard Mills 


00 


10 




James Clarke 


1 


10 


/ E'dward Devotion 


5 


00 




Henry Stevens 


5 


00 




John Parker 


1 


10 




Edward Keebe 


1 


10 




Goodwife Kecbe 


00 


10 




Mrs. Mather & ) 
James Rementon ) 


07 


00 






Thomas Woodward 


00 


10 ^ 




Goodman Winchester 


7 


00 


/ 


■Samuel Dunkin 


1 


10 



£104 05 00 

They had a faising, and the bill of expenses and 
provisions was £20, I5sh. lOd. £9, 5s. to hands for 
etceteras ! 

In 1673, by request of inhabitants living remote, 
4 



26 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT L 

leave was given to build nooning houses, for sabbath 
and other public dajs. 

In 1693 is a grant for "pueing the meeting house" 
giving ''liberty to build pues around the meeting 
house except where the boys do sit, ujDon the charge 
of those who desire the same, to have consent of the 
committee, & this only to be granted to meet persons 
for them to enjoy, & they & their familyes to fill the 
pews or else the committee to do it for them, the use 
of this grant being to save room &. not to lose it, but 
if any dye, the pews to return to the town & no one 
to sell." The locality of the pews is recorded. Be- 
hind Mrs. Denison's seat, and ranging with Mr. Wal- 
ters pew was Palsgrave Alcocks. The remainder of 
that corner was cut up into two pews, one for Jas. 
Bailey and one for Capt. Saunders, the one having 
the innermost to pass through the other. Capt. 
Timo. Stevens built his next the door at the South 
end on the right hand, and John Howard between 
that and the stairs to the women's gallery. Eben 
Pierpont's was on the right, coming in at the front 
door, and Jos. Gardner's between that and the men's 
gallery stairs. Opposite those was Saml. Ruggles. 
On the left of the North door was Edward Dor's, and 
between that and the stairs to the men's gallery, was 
Edward Weld's. John Gores' was by the pulpit 
stairs. 

But I cannot dwell longer on these matters. If 
any one would see the watchful care, and the attach- 
ment of tlie people for the church, let him read the 
letters and instructions concerning selling the old bell 
and buying a new one. 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 27 

It is not known whether the people of Roxbury 
were called together for church service by beat of 
drum, as in other towns, before they had a bell. 

The order of exercises at Church were first a 
prayer by the Pastor ; then the reading and expound- 
ing of scripture by the Teacher ; then the singing of 
a Psalm, which was dictated or lined by the Ruling 
Elder ; after that the Pastor preached a sermon or 
made an extemporaneous exhortation. The services 
concluded with prayer and a blessing from the 
Teacher. The distinction made between the office 
of Pastor and Teacher in Roxbury, and generally 
observed, was not universally adopted. 

In the first organization of a Church the procedure 
was thus : "one of the Church messengers of for- 
raine Churches examined and tried the men to be 
moulded into a Church, discerned their faith and re- 
pentance, and their covenant being before ready 
made, written, subscribed, and read and acknowl- 
edged, hee discerned and pronounced them to be a 
true Church of Christ," &c. "So did Master Weld 
at the founding of Weymouth Church." 

Church members and officers were elected. The 
custom was to have strict personal examination. At 
the formation of the Indian Church a long examina- 
tion was had in public in the Church at Roxbury 
which is still pr^erved. It was always rigid. 

Ordination was by imposition of hands, by minis- 
ters, if there. If there were none, "then two or 
three of good report, tho' not of the Ministry, did, 
by appointment of tlie Church, lay hands on them." 
The right hand of fellowship was either given by one 



28 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [pART I. 

in the name of all, or else the several delegates of 
the Churches each took the hand of him, to whom, 
by this rite they pledged the faith of christian broth- 
erhood. 

The salary provided by the town in 1649-50, for 
Mr. Eliot was £60. By the same vote £50 was as- 
sessed for Mr. Davenport. This indicates that such 
a person was engaged in the Church after Mr. Weld 
left, before Mr. Danforth was ordained. But it may 
have been for the school or the fort. In 1652, £120 
was assessed, to be equally divided between Mr. El- 
iot and Mr. Danforth. In 1718, they gave to Mr. 
Nehemiah Walter £100, and to his son Thomas £80, 
and also voted £100 towards his settlement. 

In 1674, 6th, 10th month, is the first record of a 
sabbath school. "This day we restored a primitive 
practice for ye training up of our youth," and then 
reciting "1st that the male youth, (in fitting season) 
stey, every sabbath, after morning exercise, and the 
elders examine their remembrance in every part of 
the catechism. 2d, that the female youth should 
also meet in one place and their elders examine their 
remembrance in the catechism, and whatever else 
may convene." 

The following will show what were the most im- 
portant matters, in those early days, in the colony 
and in the town. • 

"Certain Propositions agreed upon and voted in ye Church ye 
24th of 8 m. 1658. 

Infants, either of whose immediate parents are in Church cov- 
enant, do confederate in their parents & therefore are members of 
ye Church and ye Church ought to take care that they be duly in- 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 29 

structed ,in the grounds of religion, & be trained up under ye 
tuition of ordinances. Gen. 17, 7— Deut. 29, 12, 13—1 Cor. 7 
14_Gen. 18, 19— Ps. 78, 5, 6— Eph. 64." 

There were four others, which are too long to be 
inserted here. The vote passed in these words : 

"Upon many agitations amongst ourselves, upon much advice 
and counsel and especially that of the first synod at Cambridge, 
(1647) and the late Council at Boston, (1657) after more than 
ten years time of consideration about those points in hand. Wee 
the Church of Eoxbury are at last come up to the resolution, that 
wee judge in our consciences, yt those 5 propositions are agreea- 
ble to ye truth of God and rules which we are to walk by." 

The other propositions were — that it was the duty 
of all the seede of the Church as soon as they should 
come to years of discretion to own the covenant 
made in their parents. That the children of mem- 
bers should be entitled to baptism. That those who 
had owned the covenant, must, before being admit- 
ted to full communions the Lord's supper and voting, 
make public confession, and in case of imreasonable 
refusal, they should be cut off from the Church. 

Nearly a hundred years later some of these ques- 
tions taxed a mind like that of Jonathan Edwards. 

The following list contains the names of all who 
were admitted to the first Church before 1650, and 
whose names do not occur in the ancient list of in- 
habitants. Some of these remained, and were well 
known citizens of the town, where their descendants 
still live. Of others no trace can be found, but the 
simple name on the Church records. Such particu- 
lars as can be gleaned concerning the residence of 
those who removed, are added to a few of the names, 



30 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

as these are important chiefly in genealogical re- 
searches. 



Jehu Burr, was a carpenter, and 
one of the first settlers of Spring- 
field, with Pynchon. 
/ Richard Bugby & his wife, Judith. 

Gregorie Baxter ; he went to 
Braintree. 

Francis Smith. 

Mr. Richard Dummer and his wife 
Mary. 

William Talmadge and wife, went 
to "Linn." 

Samuel Wakeman, went to Hart- 
ford. 

John Coggshall and wife went to 
Rhode Island. 

Thomas Offit and wife. 

Thomas Goldthwaitwentto Salem. 

Rebecca Shorty came in 1632. 



Abraham Pratt and Joanna, his 
wife. 

Ann Shelly came in 1632, a maid 
servant. She married one Fox- 
all of Scituate. 

John Walker and wife went to 
Rhode Island. 

Elizabeth Hinds married Alexan- 
der of Boston, 1633. 

John Porter & Margaret, his wife. 
Elizabeth Ballard, a maid servant, 
came in 1633, married Robert 
Seaver. 
William Cornwall and his wife, 

Jane. 
Samuell Basse, with Ann his wife, 

went to Braintree. 
Philip Sherman, came in 1633. He 
married Sarah Odding, a daugh- 
ter of John Porter's wife, be- 
came a familist, and removed 1o 
the Island. 

Margaret Huntingdon came in 



1638, and brought several child- 
ren. Her husband died on the 
passage of small pox. 
Jasper Rawlings and Joann, his 

wife. 
Thomas Hale married Jane Lord 
in 1640 and went to Hartford, 
Conn. 

Hues, a maid servant. 

John Cumpton. 

Freeborne. 

Robert Potter and Isabel, his wife. 
Walter Disborough and his wife. 
Elizabeth Howard, a maid servant. 
Elizabeth Bowis. 
Edward Paison. 
Nicholas Baker. 
William Webb and his wife. 
Elizabeth Wise, widow. 
Adam Mott and Sarah, liis wife, 
Hingham. A tailor of this name 
came in 1635, in the Defence. 
Richard Carder. 
John Astwood and his wife went to 

Milford, Conn. 
Jasper Gun, 
Thomas Bircharde and his wife, 

came in the Truelove, 1635. 
Mary Norrice, a maide, daughter 

of Edward Norrice of Salem. 
Henry Bull. He came out in the 
James in 1635, became a familis t 
and went to the Island. 
James How and his wife. 
Mary Swaine. She lived after- 
wards at New Haven, Conn. 
Jane Ford. Sec Thos. Hale. 
Phillis Pepper, maid servant. 
Christian Spisor. 

Rachel Write. She was a "maid 
servant" «& married John Levins 



Part I.] 



HISTORY OF ROXBURY. 



SI 



Joanna Boyse, "a maide." 
Thomas Mihill, Rowley. 

Greene, a widow. 

Thomas Robinson and Silene, his 

wife. 

Mrs. Sheafe, a widow. 

Mr. Blackburne and his wife. 

George Kilborne, a man servant. 

He went to Rowley. 
Dorothy Harbittle, a maid servant. 
Ann Wallis, a maid servant. 

Anderson. 

Thomas Bumsted, and his wife. — 

They were dismissed to Boston. 

Allis 

John Mayes and his wife. 
Lewis Jones. 

Richard Woddy and his wife. 
-Thomas Baker. 
William Lewis. 

Mr. Hugh Pritchard and his wife. 
Edward White. 
James Morgan. 
Thomas Roberts, Exeter. 
Edmund Sheffield, Braintree. 
John Woody. 

Thomas Reines, a man servant. 
Mary Turner, a maid servant. 
Richard Goard. 



Philip Torie. 

Richard Woody, Jr. 

Joan Atkins, a maid servant, mar- 
ried a Smith & went to Maiden. 

Hannah Roe, a maid servant of 
Mr. Gore. 

William Franklin, executed. 

Henry Farnham. 

Ann Direton, a maid servant. 

Thomas Gardner, Muddy River. 

Widow Gardner. 

John Stebbin and wife'. 

John Stonehard and his wife, Ann. 

Goodwife Farrar. 

Good wife Read. 

Mary Heath. 

Robert Harris. 

John Turner. 

Edward Denison. 

Martha Metcalfe. 

George Beard. 

Samuell Williams, aged 15 or 16 
years. 

John WeR^ 

Mrs. Barker. "She came from 
Barbadoes for the Gospels sake." 

Goodwife Patchin, "a poore old 
woman." 



Besides those named, some Indians joined the 
church. Nan, Egborn, and some others, are named 
in the records. 

Nearly all those whose names occur in the list giv- 
ing the property estates of the inhabitants were, as 
well as the foregoing, members of the first church. 
For nearly a hundred years, that was the only church 
and, in fact, the town. Few persons lived above the 
Plain. Most of the families are very old, and nearly 
all became connected by blood or marriage. 



32 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

Quite a number of estates in the town have never 
passed out of the families of the first settlers. 

The following is a List of the Ministers of the First Church. 

First Church gathered in July, ..... 1632. 

/ Rev. Thomas Weld, "chosen & invested pastor" July, 1632. 

Rev. John Eliot "ordained Teacher" Nov. 5, . . 1632. 

/ Rev. Thomas Weld, left 1640. 

Rev. Samyel Danforth, ordained Sept. 24, . . 1650. 

Rev. Nehemiah Walter, ord. Oct. 17, . . . 16SS. 

Rev. Thomas Walter, ord. Oct. 19, ... . 171S. 

Rev. Oliver Peabody, ord. Nov. 7, . . . . 1750. 

Rev. Amos Adams, ord. Sept. 12, ... . 1753, 

Rev. Eliphalet Porter, ord. Oct. 2, . . . . 1782. 

Rev. George Putnam, ord. July 7, . . . . 1830. 

In 1706, Joseph Weld and forty-four others "at 
the West end of Roxbury towards Dedham, com- 
monly called Jamaica End & Spring Street," pre- 
sented to the General Court a petition reciting that 
they were "settled in an out-part of the town, at 
great distance from the meeting house and the great 
Travail and time in going & returning" &c., and 
praying to be made a separate precinct, embracing 
that part of the town lying between the line running, 
across the town at the upper part of the plain and 
Dedham, including about fifty families, and to be 
freed from taxes for the old parish and for aid in 
building a house. The original, with the signatures 
of the inhabitants at the West end and the original 
orders of Court endorsed thereon, is still preserved 
in the hands of one of the families in town. 

It was first proposed to set the house at Weedy 
Plain. 



Part 1.] history of roxbury. 33 

The first Church stood on the old Dedham road, 
on the part now called Walter street, near the old 
burying ground. 

The third or Jamaica Plain parish, was not formed 
till more than fifty years afterwards. 

The time when the first burial ground, at the cor- 
ner of Washington and Eustis streets, was laid out is 
not known. 

On the second page of the oldest Town Book is an 
agreement by "John Woody, constable," "to fence in 
ye buriall place, with a stone wall, and a douball gate 
of six or eight fett wide and to rigge it and to finde 
all stuf and stones." 

In 1651, Thomas Alcock had liberty to feed "the 
buriall place, he fencing, and putting a gate and lock 
and two keys," &c. 

In 1683, voted "that our Brethren at Jamaco have 
liberty to provide a convenant place for a herring 
place and ye towne in generall will bare the charge 
provided the selectmen doe judge the place conve- 
nant, and the aforesaid herring place if so provided 
shall be for any of the towne to bury their dead in if 
they please." The place was probably on the hill, 
near whe^pC the second Church stood. 

In 1724, Captain Heath gave land for a burial ^ 
place at the Plain. 

In 1725, the first burial place was enlarged. 

In 1673, the town chose a coffin-maker and digger 
of graves. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The Free Schoole in Roxlurie. 

The free school, also, which has always been so 
dear to the people of the Town, and has now become 
so well endowed, was established by the first settlers 
at an early day. The precise date of its foundation 
cannot be determined and is only fixed in the various 
accounts met with as prior to 1645. Dedham estab- 
lished a school in 1644 and appropriated 20/. a year 
to it, and Winthrop says that divers free schools w^ere 
established about this time. In the will of Samuel 
Hugburne, under date of 1642, is this provision: 
" When Roxbury shall set up a free schoole in ye 
towne there shall ten shilling per annum out of ye 
necke of land and ten shilling per annum out of the 
house and house lot be paid unto it forever." 

The school was, therefore, founded after 1642. 

Sometime between that time and August 1645, the 
inhabitants entered into an agreement for the support 
of a free school, which agreement was destroyed by 
fire, as will be seen by a petition afterwards present- 
ed to the general court. 

In 1645, there was an agreement made, to supply 
the place of the old one, which is still preserved, in a 
little, old, parchment covered book which is tied up 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 35 

like a scroll. It may now be regarded as the begin- 
ning of the free school. As it is of some importance, 
as well as an interesting curiosity, it is given at 
length. 

"Whereas, the inhabitants of Roxburie, out of their religious 
care of posteritie, have taken into consideration how necessarie 
the education of theire children in literature will be to fitt them 
for publicke service bothe in Church and Commonwealthe in suc- 
ceeding ages, They, therefore, unanimously have consented and 
agreed to erect a free schoole in the said Town of Roxburie 
and to allow twenty pounds per annum to the Schoole master to 
be raised out of the messuages and part of the lands of the sev- 
eral donors (Inhabitants of the said Town) in several proportions 
as hereafter followeth under theire hands. And for the well or- 
dering thereof they have chosen and elected seven Feoffees who 
shall have power to put in or remove the schoolemaster, to see to 
the well ordering of the schoole and scholars to receive and pay 
the said Twenty pounds per annum to the schoolemaster and to 
dispose of any other gifte or giftes which hereafter may or shall 
be given for the advancement of learning & education of child- 
ren. And if it happen that any one or more of the said ffeoffees 
to dye, or by removal out of the Towne, or excommunication to 
bee displayced, the said Donors hereafter expressed doe hereby 
covenant for themselves and for their heirs within the space of one 
month after such death or removall of any one or more of the 
ffeoffees to elect and choose other in their roome so that the num- 
ber may be compleale. And if the said Donors or the greater 
parte of them doe neglect to make election within the time fore- 
limited, then shall the surviving ffeoffees or the greater part of 
them, elect new ffeoffees in the roome or roomes of such as are 
dead or removed (as before) to fuUfiil the number of seven, and 
then their election shall bee of equal validity and force, as if it 
had been made by all or the greater number of the said Donors. 
In consideration of the premises and that due provision may 
not bee wanting for the maintenance of the Schoolemaster for 
ever, the Donors hereafter expressed, for the severall proportions 
by them voluntarily undertaken & under written, Have given 



o6 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [pART 1. 

and granted, & by these presents doe for themselves, their heires 
and Assignees, respectively hereby give and grant unto the pres- 
ent ffeoffees viz: Joseph Weld, John Johnson, John Roberts, 
Joshua Hews, Isaac Morrell, Thomas Lambe & their successors 
chosen as is aforesaid, the severall rents or summes hereafter ex- 
pressed under their handes issuing & goeing for the of their sev- 
erall Messuages lands & tenements in Roxburie, yearely payable 
at or upon the last of September, by even portions : the first 
payment to begin the last of September in this present yeare. 
And the said Donors for themselves, their heires and Assignees 
do covenant and grant to and with the fTeoffees and their succes- 
sors that if the said annuall rente or any parte thereofT be arriere 
and unpayed for the space of twenty days next after the days ap- 
poynted for payment, that then and from thenceforth it shall be 
lawful for and to the said ffeofTees and their successors unto the 
said messuages, Lands and premises of the partie or parties 
making default to enter and distraine and the said disiresse then 
and there found to leade, drive and carry away, and the same to 
prize and sell for the payment of the said rents returning the 
overplus unto the owners and proprietors of the said houses and 
Lands. And further the said Donors doe for themselves, theire 
heires and Assignees covenant and grant to and with the ffeoffees 
aforesaid and their successors that if no sufficient distresse or 
distressed can be had or taken in the premises according to the 
true intent and meaneing of this present deed, or if it shall hap- 
pen that any to bee made or replevie or replevins to be sued 

or obtained of or by reason of any distresse or distressed to bee 
taken by virtue of the presents as is aforesaid, that then and from 
thenceforth it shall & may bee lawful! for the said ffeoffees and 
their successors into the said Messuages, Lands & premises to 
enter and the same and every part thereof to have use and enjoy 
to the use of the Schoole and the rentes issues and proffits there- 
of to receive and take, and the same to take and deteine and 
keepe to the use and behoofe of the schoole as is aforesaid, with- 
out any account makeing thereof unto the said Donors, their 
heirs or assignees and to use and to occupie the said houses, 
lands and premises to the use aforesaid untill such time as the 
said annuall rents or summes and every parte or parcell thereoff 
with all arrearages and damages for non payment bee fully satis- 



Fart 1.] history of roxbury. 37 

fied and paid unto the said ffeoffees their successors or assignees 
by the said Donors, their heires or assignees or any of them : 
of which said rentes or summes the said Donors every and sin- 
gular of them have putt the said ffeoffees in full possession and 
seizin at the delivery hereof. And for the further ratification 
hereof, the said Donors become suitors to the honored General 
Court for the establishment hereof by their authority and power. 
Always provided that none of the Inhabitants of the said Towne 
of Roxburie that shall not joyne in this act with the rest of the 
Donors shall have any further benefit thereby than other stran- 
gers shall have who are no Inhabitantes. And lastly it is enact- 
ed by the said Donors that the ffeoffees and their successors shall 
from time to time be accountable unto the Court of Assistants and 
the Donors for the trust committed to them when at any time they 
shall be called thereunto and required. In witness whereof the 
said Donors aforesaid have hereunto subscribed their names and 
summes given yearly, the last day of August in the year of Our 
Lord 1645. 

Mr. Thomas Dudley, for the house he dwells in 01 04 00 

Captain Gookins, for the house he dwells in 01 00 00 

[This was the great friend of Eliot, the one who aided him in the In- 
dian work. He came from Virginia in 1644, and went to Cambridge in 

1648.] 
/ Mr. Thomas Welde for his dwelling house 

Mr. John Eliot for his dwelling house 

/ Captaine Joseph Weld for his house 

Mr. Hugh Prichard for his house 

( for his lot at the pond ) 

Mr. Joshua Hewes ] by Capt. Weld bein [ 00 16 00 

( 18 acres in all ) 

Mr. John Gore for his dwelling house 

/ John J. hnson " " 

Thomas Bell 

Wm. Park " " 

Isaac Morill « " 

Isaac Heath ' ' " 

Thomas Lamb « « 

Williatii Dcfiison " " 

Phiiiip Elliott 



1 


04 


00 


1 


04 


00 


1 


04 


00 


1 


04 


00 



00 


16 


00 


00 


13 


00 


1 


00 


00 


00 


13 


00 


00 


12 


00 


00 


11 


00 


00 


10 


00 


00 


OS 


00 


00 


OS 


00 



38 



ttiSTORY OF ROXBURY. 



[Part I. 



John Roberts 


for his 


dwelling house 


00 


08 


00 


George Holmes 


i( 


u 


00 


08 


00 


Wm. Cheney 


(I 


(( 


00 


08 


00 


John Watson 


t( 


<( 


00 


08 


00 


Samuel Ffinch 


(( 


<( 


00 


06 


00 


John Watsoti 


for his 


lot at ye pond 


00 


04 


00 


Daniel Brewer 


for his 


house 


00 


05 


00 


Isaac Johnson 


(( 


a 


00 


04 


00 


James Astwood 


(( 


(( 


00 


04 


00 


John Bowles 


(( 


<{ 


00 


04 


00 


J/ Griffin Crafts 


(( 


(( 


00 


04 


00 


J/ John Ruggies 


(( 


<i 


00 


04 


00 


Robert Williams 


(( 


(( 


00 


04 


00 


John Scarboro 


(( 


(( 


00 


04 


00 


Giles Pason 


<( 


(( 


00 


04 


00 


Richard Pepper 


(( 


(( 


00 


04 


00 


Humphrey Johnson^ 


(( 


({ 


00 


04 


00 


iRichard Vv oody, senr. 


(( 


(( 


00 


03 


04 


Richard Woody, scd. 


(( 


« 


00 


03 


04 


John Woody 


(( 


<( 


00 


03 


04 


^ Abraham Newell 


(( 


(( 


00 


03 


04 


John Stonnard 


« 


(( 


00 


03 


04 


Edward Pason 


li 


(( 


00 


03 


04 


Robert Seaver 


(( 


(( 


00 


02 


06 


Robert Gamlin 


(1 


(( 


GO 


03 


04 


Thomas Gardner 


(( 


(( 


00 


03 


04 


John Leavinz 


<( 


u 


00 


03 


04 


Edward Porter 


(( 


(( 


00 


02 


06 


Christopher Peake 


ii 


<( 


00 


02 


06 


Richard Peacock 


t( 


(( 


00 


02 


00 


Ffrancis Smith 


u 


(( 


00 


02 


00 


Thomas Ruggles, widow 


a 


(( 


00 


02 


00 


John Mays 


(( 


(( 


00 


02 


00 


Ralph Hemingway 


(( 


(( 


00 


02 


00 


Edward Bridge 


(( 


(t 


00 


02 


00 


Abraham Howe 


(( 


(( 


00 


02 


00 


Edwin Anderson 


(1 


(( 


00 


02 


00 


Arthur Garey 


11 


(f 


00 


02 


00 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 39 



Edward Bugby 


for his 


house 


00 


02 


00 


Edward While 


11 


i( 


00 


02 


00 


Robert Pepper 


<( 


(1 


00 


02 


00 


William Lewis 


(( 


(( 


00 


02 


00 


Martin Stebbin 


(I 


(1 


00 


02 


00 


John Stebbin 


n 


K 


00 


02 


00 


Jeremiah Cesvvorth 


(t 


(( 


00 


02 


00 


Robert Prentice 


tl 


<( 


00 


02 


00 


Lewis Jones 


u 


(( 


00 


04 


00 



It is agreed by all such of the inhabitants of Roxbury as have 
or shall subscribe their names to this booke for themselves sever- 
ally and their severall & respective heires and executors that not 
only their houses, but also their yardes, orchards, gardenings, 
outhouses and homesteads shall be and are hereby bounde and be 
made lyable to and for the severall yearly somes and rente before 
or hereafter in this booke mentioned to be paid by every of ihenti 
dated the xxviii th day December 1646, 

Tho. Dudley William Cheney 

»^Tho. Weld Rich:.)-,] iVpiJor 

John Eliot Edwin Anderson 

Isaac Heath Giles Payson 

Hugh Prichard Humphrey Johnsoii 

v' John Johnson Edward Porter 

William Parke Isaac Johnson 

John Roberts Thomas Gardner 

The following notes occur in the agreement, viz : 
Under Capt. Gookin's name, 

"When Capt. Gookins leases the house lie dwells in then the follow- 
ing inhabitants obs who shall possess the lot adjoining 

thereto are to pay two shillings yearly and the possessors of the neck, 
late Samuel Hugburnes are to pay the other ten shillings yearly." 
Opposite Thos. Welde's name, 

"Although the name of Mr. Thos. Welde our reverend pastor be not 
sett down, only Mr. Eliot hath subscribed to both Mr. Weld's gift and 
his own, the reason is because Mr. Weld being in England gave orders 
and power to Mr. Eliot so to do and his son who doth inherit his lands in 
Roxbury doth say that he is fully satisfied in it because Mr. Eliot did 
show him his father's letters wherein he gave him power so to do, to 
these expressions of Mr. Tho. Weld the son of our reverend pastor, we 
testified by our hands. William Parks, 

John Bowls." 
Under Thos. Bell's name, 

"Mr. Bell at request of Mr. Eliot hath (obs.) gived power to (obs.) «fc 
we (obs.) Eliot to make the sum of his donation upon his farm the sum 
of twenty shillings (witness) his letter dated 22 of the third month 1669 
this is 20 shill. pr. annum. We, the feoffers saw this letter & by our 
names we certify the same that he giveth 20 pr. annum." 



40 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

Such was the origin of what is now the Roxbury 
High School. 

The school rents created by these agreements were 
collected the next year. And for a])out a hundred 
years afterwards rent was collected by virtue of these 
agreements, though the amount was afterwards re- 
duced one half by general consent. The first charter 
did not free the signers of the original instrument 
from their obligations under them. No trace has yet 
been found of any act or agreement by which the va- 
rious estates in town are exempted from payment of 
School rent. The author of a sketch of the history 
of this school published in 1826, who was a teacher 
of the school, says, " how or in what manner the 
lands originally subjected to this tribute, became ex- 
empted from the payment of the tax or whether they 
are in fact legally exempted will remain matter of 
uncertainty until further papers shall be found, as the 
want of boundaries and descriptions prevent all 
knowledge of the estates subjected to the payment." 
In a very full manuscript account of the school, writ- 
ten by a very accurate man and one who was learned 
in the ancient history of the Town and School, no 
allusion is made to the release of the estates from this 
rent. In 1722 a suit was commenced against Sam- 
uel Stevens for the recovery of five years back rent, 
by the feoffees. It has been supposed that this was 
tried to test the question whether the estates were 
holden foy these rents. But, on examination of the 
record, (the suit being brought before Habijah Sav- 
age, of Boston) it appears that no question was made 
as to Stevens' liability. The only dispute was wheth- 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 41 

er another party who had bought half of the estate of 
one of the original donors was not obliged to pay part 
of the rent as well as Stevens the other half, which 
he owned ; and finally, on settlement, the parties in- 
terested in the other part of the estate gave 31. to 
Stevens and he assumed payment of the whole of the 
original donation. The rents were collected for 
some time after this. But the accounts show that 
they gradually fell off. 

In 1752, on the petition of some " it was proposed 
(in town meeting,) whether they might apply to the 
general court to take off the donations from the es- 
tates doned for the benefit of the school land, and no 
great matter being said upon that affair it was vo- 
ted not to act upon it." There can be little doubt 
that as sufficient funds came in gradually from other 
sources for the support of the school, the ancient rent 
was not exacted. As estates changed hands and 
were divided it became more difficult to collect it. It 
was probably, quietly abandoned by common consent. 
It is said, however, to have been the opinion of Dr. 
Porter that the rents were commuted for some speci- 
fied amount paid in full. But if so this must have 
been so recent that there would be some trace of it. 

The rents were sometimes gathered by a collector 
who went round for the purpose. Sometimes the 
whole or part of them were given to the schoolmaster 
to collect for himself or take out in board. In one 
instance in 1679 there being " complaynte that many 
of the donations are remaining unpaid," the feoffees 
are directed "to employ one as Bayle (Bailiff) to give 
notice from house to house of the severall Donors of 



42 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I, 

the time and place of payment, and, in case of failure 
to make payment, to make distress according to the 
original agreement." No part of the agreement was 
a dead letter, and, though some were for a while dis- 
satisfied under it, it was the source of support for the 
school for many years. 

The Town seems determined, from the first, to fix 
this school on a permanent basis. In 1662 a meet- 
ing of the donors was called, and "all the inhabitants 
and neighbors of the town willing to join in promo- 
ting the good and benefit of the schoole" were invited 
to be present. Warning was given to all the Donors, 
from house to house, and they met and chose new 
feofifees. In 1666 a meeting was called, and " after 
some discourse it was thought convenient and a mat- 
ter most tending to peace and love to propound the 
case to the whole town, that opportunity might be to 
as many as thought good of the town to come in and 
joyn in this work and to help bear the charge so as to 
have the privilege of the school — or else that they 
would present a better way and we would join them." 
The meeting then adjourned, and, at the adjournmenty 
" after much discourse spending the day, the meeting 
was orderly dissolved and nothing was done." 

A petition dated 20th of 3d month 1669, signed by- 
John Eliott and Thomas Weld, was presented to the 
general court, reciting that — 

" Whereas the first inhabitants of Roxbury to the number of 
more than sixty families, well nigh the whole town in those days, 
have agreed together to lay the foundation of a Grammar school, 
and for the maintainance thereof have by a voluntary donation 
given a small rent forever out of their several habitations and 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 43 

homesteads as appears in the records of our school book and 
have settled a company of feoffees — to gather and improve 
the said rents." 

"2d, whereas by divine providence our first book and charter 
was burned in the burning of John Johnson's house, it was 
again renewed in this form and manner as we do now pres- 
ent it, yet by reason of the death of sundry of the donors and 
the alienations of tenements we are under this defect that some 
of the hands of the donors are not unto this 2d book personally 
which were to the first : nor are they attainable being dead ; 

therefore our humble request is that the Honored Court im- 

power the Feoffees to receive and gather the same, as if the 
names of the donors were written with their own hands. 

3d, They also pray that, whereas there is a parcel many 

years since given to our school and it is by annexing a sched- 
ule to the will of the deceased donor touching a clause in his 

will which was not put in when the will was proved the 

schedule and the school's title to the lands may be ratified and 
confirmed." 

This petition was referred. The committee reported that "in 
the year 1645 there was an agreement of the then inhabitants of 
Roxbury for the laying of a foundation for a school {obscure) that 
the school {obscure) hath been carried an end {obs.) on that foun- 
dation and that there hath not been any other foundation {obs.) 

been made We find also that several of the inhabitants do 

strongly oppose the way proposed and that hath been in practice, 
yet do not find, that they proposed any other effectual way : but 
some of them desirous, that this may be altered {obs.) yet they 
declared, that they feared that, if the way that hath been {obs.) 
be wholly waved they should have no school at all {obs.) and for- 
asmuch by the endeavours we have used to persuade them to a 
mutual agreement we find not any desirable effect, nor that the 
temper of those opposing the former foundation is encouraging 
{obs.) we conceive that the petitioners desires be granted {obs.) 
that the present feoffees and their successors {obs.) be confirmed 
and empowered to collect former subscriptions and so to take 
others {obs.) and that those whose names are not in this book 
(two witnesses upon oath appearing to prove they did assent to 



44 HISTORY OF ROXBORY. [PaRT I. 

the way of the book) be obliged and their heirs and assigns as if 
their names had been thereto : we also conceive that the land of 
Lawrence Whittemore be confirmed to the best use of the Town 
in being settled upon the free school." 

And the following act was passed at a general 
court holden 11 : 3: 1670. 

"Whereas certain of the Inhabitants of Roxbury, out of a Re- 
ligious care of their Posterity, and their good education in Liter- 
ature, did heretofore sequester and set apart, certain sums of 
money amounting to twenty pounds to be paid annually unto cer- 
tain feoffees and their successors, by the said Donors or Feoffees 
orderly chosen for the sole and only behoof of benefit and set- 
tlement of a Free School in the sd. Town of Roxbury : Obliging 
themselves, heirs, Executors and Assignees : together with their 
Houses and Homesteads, for the true and full performance of 
their respective Obligations — all which doth fully appear by 
their agreement bearing date the last of August one thousand 
six hundred forty-five ; in which agreement the original donors 
were wisely Suitors to the General Court for the establishment 
of the premises According to which a petition was offered in the 
name of the present Feoffees to the General Court holden at 
Boston, May 19, 1669. In answer of which the Court impow- 
ered a committee to take cognizance of, and return the Case to 
the Court, which accordingly was done as appeared by their re- 
turn dated May 19, 1670. After serious consideration whereof, 
the Court doth hereby order and enact, that the said agreement 
made and signed by the Donors of the said Sum of Money the 
last of August 1645 Be, by our Authority, ratified and estab- 
lished to all Intents, Ends and Purposes therein specified, both 
with respect to the orderly choice and power of the Feoffees, as 
also for the Time and manner of payment of the said sums of 
money distinctly to be yielded and payed by the Donors of the 
same, according to their respective subscriptions, and in case of 
refusal of payment of any part of the said suras of money to 
which subscription is made or consent legally proved, that the 
orderly distress of the Feoffees upon the respective estates 
obliged shall be valid for the payment of any such sums of 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 45 

money so refused to be payed : As also this Court by their au- 
thority dolh settle and determine the lands of Lawrence Whltta- 
more with all the rents and arrearages that have or may arise 
from thence from time to time, to be received and improved by 
the said FeofTees to the use, behoof, and benefit of the Free 
School in Roxbury, which said Feoffees are hereby empowered 
for the ordering of all things for the settlement, and reparation 
of the School house, choice of masters and orders of the School. 
To improve all donations either past or future, for the behoof, 
and benefit of the said School, without any personal or private 
respects, as also the ordering of twenty acres of arable land, ly- 
ing in the great lotts, which hath been in occupation of the said 
School about twenty years, as also that if for the necessity and 
convenient future being of a School master there be necessary the 
future levying of any further sums of money, that the said 
Donors be absolutely and wholly free from any such levy or im- 
position those only being accounted Donors who are possessors of 
or responsible for the said sums of money according to subscrip- 
tion, and the said Feoffees to be always responsible to the Court 
of Assistants and Donors for the faithful discharge of their trust, 
provided there be constant provision of an able Grammar-schoole 
master, and the school-house is settled where it was first intend- 
ed. And may be accommodable to those whose homesteads were 
engaged towards the maintenance thereof, and it} case there be 
need of further contribution that the levy be equally made on all 
the inhabitants excepting only those that do by virtue of their 
subscription pay their full proportion of the annual charges." 

The Free School continued under this act until the 
act of January 21, 1789 was passed, incorporating the 
Trustees of the Grammar School in the easterly part 
of Roxbury. Prior to 1789 there were two bodies 
the Feoffees under the old charter, who had the gen- 
eral charge of the school and its property, and the 
Trustees who were appointed to the care of the prop- 
erty given by Thomas Bell. 



46 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [pART I. 

This school has been very richly endowed. Most 
of the gifts were made at an early day and must be 
here noticed. 

The " School land" is named in various places from 
about the period when the school was founded, but to 
what it refers cannot be determined. 

The first donation, of Samuel Hugburne, has been 
already noticed. 

Lawrence Whittamore, the " ancient christian," 
whe died in 1644, left his property to the free school. 
The ancient charter confirmed the title of the school 
to it ; it indicates also the question there was about 
it. Of the real estate given by him there was one 
lot on Stony River of about four acres, and another of 
about ten acres then described as " on the hill in the 
pond lots," and now known as the " pond hill lot." 

About 1660, John Stowe gave three acres in the 
great lotts *' to clear his house." 

Isaac Heath, by his will, 1660, 19th of 11th, names 
his " part in«ye 4000 acres'' which he gives, " to ye 
schoole in Roxburie." His proportion was a large 
one as he had, according to the account rendered in to 
the court, in 1643, 256 acres of land. 

Thomas Bell gave all his property here, which was 
large, to the school. His will was dated January 29, 
1671, and proved at London May 30th, 1672. A 
copy has lately been procured from the office in En- 
gland. An extract is recorded in the ancient book 
belonging to the first parish, which is as follows : 

"Imprimis, I give unto Mr. John Eliot, minister of the Church 
" of Christ and People of God at Roxbury in New England and 
" Isaac Johnson whom I take to be an officer or overseer of or in 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 47 

" said Church and to one other like Godly person now bearing 
" office in said church and their successors the minister and other 
" two such head officers of the said Church at Roxbury as the 
" whole church there from time to time shall best approve of suc- 
" cessively from time to time forever all those my messuages or 
" tenements, lands and hereditaments with their and every of 
" their appurtenances situate, lying, and being at Roxbury in 
" New England aforesaid in parts beyond the seas to have and 
" to hold to the said officers of the said Church of Roxbury for 
" the time being and their successors from time to time forever, 
" in trust only notwithstanding, to and for the maintainance of a 
" schoole master and free school for the teaching and instructing 
" of Poor Men's children at Roxbury aforesaid forever and to be 
" for no other use, intent, and purpose whatsoever." 

There was some difficulty about the rents fixed on 
these lands afterwards. A question also arose out of 
the form of the devise, and at the general court May 
27, 1677— 

"In answer to the petition of the Feoffees of the free school of 
Roxbury settled heretofore by order of Court in Town Street, 
the General Court having heard and seen the pleas and eviden- 
ces in the case, doe, upon mature deliberation, judge that the de- 
clared intent of Mr. Thomas Bell both in his life and at his death 
in his will was the settlement of his estate in Roxbury upon that 
free school then in being at his death in said Town." 

The bequest of personal property by Thomas Bell 
was considerable in amount. The real estate which 
he devised to the school has already become of great 
value. In his day it was a large estate. He was 
one of the wealthy men of the town. Bell was a 
generous man and one of a liberal mind. He is the 
Harvard of our Free School. 

In the petition of 1643, he signs as owner of 166 
acres. The present surveys of land left by him do 



48 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT f. 

not vary far from this amount. His homestead was 
in what in those days was one of the best localities 
in town. The ancient mansion which stands at the 
corner of Bojlston and School streets, was built on 
the land he gave and nearly in the very spot where 
his house stood. His lands extend from Stony River, 
taking in this homestead, across School street and the 
turnpike, up to Back street. The beautiful, smooth, 
open field of nearly eighteen acres, at the right of 
the Dedham turnpike, on the brow of the hill, at the 
corner of School street, as you go towards Boston, 
and the great orchard opposite are embraced in this. 
In all there are about fitty-six acres in his home farm. 
Then upon Walk Hill street, about two miles and 
three-fourths from Washington street is a lot, divided 
by Walk Hill street, of forty-seven acres. Upon 
Beach street, a little less than fifty rods from the 
turnpike, there are two lots, amounting to about forty 
seven acres. There is some other besides. Should 
the rate of increase of Roxbury be no greater than it 
has been for the last few years. Bell's gift alone 
would, at the expiration of the present leases, say in 
the year 1900, be an immense endowment for such 
an institution as the school. 

In 1756, a petition was presented by the West 
Parish concerning the donation of land by Bell at 
Oxford. 

In 1671, an old lease mentions "three acres lately 
Giles Payson's" and "four acres of land lately be- 
longing to John Stebbins." There is preserved a 
copy of a deed from Giles Payson of "three acres in 
the great lots" "provided the schools forever remaine 



Part 1.] history of roxburv. 49 

free and the donation of four shillings, be forever 
quit." From the fact that John Stebins' name, or 
land, is not in the subsequent lists of those liable for 
rents, it is probable his grant was made on a similar 
condition. 

Some time before 1674-5 Samuel Finch gave a 
piece of marsh, containing a little more than an acre, 
to the school. This appears from the oldest receipt 
on file, of that date, which acknowledges the pay- 
ment of ten shillings by James Frizzal for that marsh. 
This marsh is at Gravelly Point, and is still owned 
by Roxbury School. 

In 1660, the General Court judged it "meet to 
grant to the Town of Roxbury five hundred acres of 
land towards the maintainance of a free school." The 
land, however, does not appear to have been located 
at that time. In 1715, upon the petition of Stephen 
Williams and others setting forth the facts, the gen- 
eral court granted "five hundred acres to the town of 
Roxbury towards the support of the free school." In 
1718, Nov. 4, the platt was returned by sworn sur- 
veyors and approved. The land was laid out in Ox- 
ford, Mass. on Chabunagungamong pond. The plans 
are still in existence. 

Committees were appointed from time to time, for 
various purposes connected with this land, from 1749 
to 1790. Those relative to lotting out the lands, 
preventing waste, &c., &c., need not be here noticed. 
In 1767 they voted to sell. In 1770, the committee 
reported that they had sold to Rev. Mr. Bowman of 
Oxford, and Mr. Bellows for £223 : 10 : 00. In the 
same year it was proposed "whether to give ye in- 
7 



60 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [pART L 

terest of the school money to ye inhabitants at ye 
West end of the town and voted in ye negative." — 
From 1776 to 1788 a committee w^as appointed an- 
nually to take charge of the Oxford School money. 
In 1790 the money was paid into the Town treasury 
and that is the end of it. 

In 1683, Oct. 29, William Mead, by his will, gave 
*'unto the free school of Roxbury for the encourage- 
ment of learning, all the aforesaid little tenement by 
me purchased, in case my beloved wife Rebeckah 
marry not, my will is that after her decease the whole 
(065.) shall be for the use of the aforesaid school and 
managed by the Feoffees of the said school for the 
best advantage." This was known as Mead's Or- 
chard, and consists of about one acre and nineteen 
rods. It is on Warren street and was often reserved 
for the school master's residence. 

Governor Dudley is supposed to have given part of 
the lot, where the old school house, that was sold, 
stood, opposite Guild Hall. Both he and his de- 
scendants made very large donations to the school. 

Other donations were made to the school besides 
those that have been noticed. 

With such bounties, it is no wonder that this school 
was, very early, one "of high character" and "tlie 
admiration of the neighboring towns." It was said 
by Mather "that Roxbury had afforded more scholars, 
first for the college and then for the public, than any 
other town of its bigness or, if I mistake not, of 
twice its bigness, in all New England." 

And the Roxbury Free School, for the liberality of 
its objects, the great names that have been associated 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 51 

with it, and the actual good it has done, as well as 
for its wealth, deserves an honorable place amongst 
the institutions of the country. But these must be 
passed by now, whilst we turn over a few matters 
concerning its early days. 

In 1648, Isaac Morrill agreed to collect the school 
money and pay it over to the schoolmaster. 

The first teacher named in the school records is 
Master Hanford who agreed for twenty-two pounds 
per annum. 

The 25th of the 9th month 1652, the feoffees 
agreed with Mr. Daniel Welde "that he provide con- 
venient benches with forms, with tables for the schol- 
lars, a convenient seate for the schoolemaster, a 
Deske to put the Dictionary on and shelves to lay up 
bookes, and keepe the house and windows and doores 
with the chimney sufficient and proper and there 
shall be added to his yearly stipend due by the Booke 
the rent of the schoole land being four pounds the 
yeare. He having promised the Feoffees to free 
them of the labour of gathering up the particulars of 
the contributions and they to stand by him in case 
any be refractory." 

Though our early law of the colony required each 
town to provide a school master to teach children to 
read and write, and, when any towns should have a 
hundred families or householders, to set up a gram- 
mar school, there appears to have been none but this 
in Roxbury. 

In 1668, the Feoffees made an agreement with 
John Prudden as teacher, for a year, the terms of 
which are a little curious. Master Prudden "prom- 



'52 HISTORY OF ROXBIJRY. [pART I. 

" ised and engaged to use his best endeavour, both by 
" precept and example, to instruct in all Scholasticall, 
" morall, and Theological discipline, the Children, (soe 
" far as they are or shall be capable") of the signers 
"all A. B. C. darians excepted." 

About fifty persons signed the agreement. 

And the Feoffees, "not enjoyning, nor leting the 
" said Pruden from teaching any other children, pro- 
" vided the number thereof doe not hinder the profiting 
" of the fore-named youth," promised to allow Mr. 
Pruden twenty-five pounds half on the 29th of Sept. 
and the other half "to be payed on March 25, by 
" William Parks and Robert Williams, their heirs or 
" administrators, at the upper mills in Roxbury, three 
*' quarters in Indian Corn, or peas, and the other fourth 
" part in barley, all good and merchantable at price 
" current in the country rate, at the day of payment." 

It was "alsoe further added" that "if any other 
" persons in the town of Roxbury shall for like ends 
" desire and upon like grounds with the above-men- 
" tioned, see meete to adde their names to this writing, 
" they shalle enjoye the like priviledges." 

One column of the subscribers was headed 
"Graiz5." 

At one time, probably about 1673, the Bell lands 
were let to John Gore for twenty-one years, he 
agreeing "to teach the school or procure a substitute, 
or pay £12 a year in corn, or cattle," &c. 

In 1679, it was ordered that "parents, &c., of 
" children comeing to the school, whether inhabitants 
" or strangers, shall pay four shillings a child to the 
" master or bring half a cord of good merchantable 



Part I.] history of roxbury. do 

" wood, except such as for poverty or otherwise shall 
*' be acquitted by the feoffees." 

In 1724 it was ordered that parents, &c. shall send 
4<sh. 6d. in money or two feet of good wood for each 
child within ten days "or the master to suffer no such 
children to have the benefit of the fire." 

In 1735 the amount for each child was eight shil- 
lings or two feet of wood. 

In 1665, the school house, probably the first, was 
repaired by Capt. Johnson. But in 1666 it was com- 
plained of as out of repair. In 1681 one of the teach- 
ers in a letter to one of the trustees says " of incon- 
" veniences, I shall instance no other, but that of the 
*' school house the confused and shattered and nastie 
" posture that it is in, not fitting for to reside in, the 
" glass broken and thereupon very raw and cold, the 
" floor very much broken and torn up to kindle fires, 
" the hearth spoiled, the seats some burnt and others 
*' out of kilter, that one had as well nigh as goods 
" keep school in a hog stie as in it." (This master 
was evidently not restricted to morall, ecclesiasticall 
and theologicall discipline.) A new building was 
probably built about this period. 

In 1742, the old school house being much gone to 
decay, the feoffees, "with the help of many well dis- 
posed persons by way of subscription" erected a new 
school house. This was built of brick, of one story. 
The second story was added in 1820. It was sold in 
1835. When they built the brick school house in 
1742 the "Honl. Paul Dudley Esquire was pleased to 
bestow for the use of said school a good handsome 
Bell." 



54 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

In 1688, the school lands were let at auction for 
five hundred years. This gave great dissatisfaction, 
and it was alleged that there was fraud in the sale. 
About 1716 a petition was presented to the council 
and the leases of Bell's land were declared to be con- 
trary to the law and statutes of England and beyond 
the power of the Feoffees. A suit or suits were 
brought in court. Achmuty and Valentine were 
counsel for the School, but Gore the defendant pre- 
vailed at last, after the case had been appealed and 
reviewed. These leases were finally all cancelled by 
agreement. 

In 1728 the standard of admission was raised. In- 
stead of excluding only ABCdarians, the order provi- 
ded that the master should " not be obliged to receive 
" any children for his instruction at the said school 
" until such time as they can spell common easy En- 
" glish words either in the Primer, or in the Psalter 
" in some good measure." Latin was ordered to be 
taught at least as early as 1674. 

In 1765 the present house on the Bell place was 
built. 

The early income of the School, after receiving its 
various donations, may be seen by the following ac- 
count. 

"Rozbury, 7 April, 1731. 
The profits or incomes of ihe Free School in Roxbury, taken 
the day and year above written. 

Imprimis. Mr. Bell's farm so called — 
Ebenezer Gore's lease at ... . £30 00 00 
Ebr. Weld . . . Lease . . 7 00 00 

Zac.h. Smith's lease at 3 00 00 

Scarboro and Sam Williams (sold since k money let) 5 00 00 

~ 4-5 00 00 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 55 

Other school lands — 
Joseph Ruggles . . . 

Joseph Williams ..... 

Joseph Warren 

John Stowe ...... 

James Frizzel 



Govr. Dudley's Donation £50 



Subscriptions collected by 
Mr. Dorr 

" Saml. Williams 

*' Sumner 
Maj. Bowles 
Deacon Mayo 
John Williams 



6 


00 


00 


4 


10 


00 


2 


10 


00 


2 


10 


00 




10 


00 


16 


00 


00 


3 


00 


00 


2 


02 


00 


1 


16 


03 


1 


OS 


00 


1 


04 


00 





19 


00 




12 


08 



45 00 00 

16 00 00 

3 00 00 

8 01 11 



72 1 11 

The whole amounts to 72 1 11 
Paul Dudley. 
From the year 1645 when the Donors subscribed, to the year 
1734, including only ye year 1733, is 88 years. 

£ sh. D. 
The amount of the subscriptions being 8 — 1 — 11 pr. ann. 

£ sk. D. 

brings the subscribers to have payd 712 — 8 — 8. 

Each donor that pays 125,^. pr. annum £ s. p. 

has paid in the time above-mentioned 52 16 00 

Mr. Dudley seems in the above account to have 
been considering the wealth of the school, and the 
best mode of securing its income. 

It is difficult, oftentimes, to trace the old home- 
steads. The following list of the Donors and estates 



56 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

will be found a great aid and a sure guide. This ac- 
count was made about the year 1700, no doubt for 
the purpose of guiding in collecting the school rents. 
It will be borne in mind that the names are given for 
the different dwellings, or homesteads, not for the lots 
owned by individuals. This list gives, first, the 
names of the original subscribers, and then, when 
their dwellings had changed hands, the names of the 
occupant in 1690 or 1700. To that time most of 
them can be traced with little difficulty. 

The sums in this list are in those in ye former. This was made 
after Eliot's death in 1690. 

His excellency ye gov. 00 12 00 James Astwood, alias Yung- 
Mr. Thomas Weld (now Ed- man, now Stoddard 2 00 

mond) . . . 12 00 John Bowles, now Gary 2 00 

Mr. John Eliot now 12 00 *^ Griffin Crafts, now Ruggles 

Capn. Joseph Weld (now secundus . . . 2 00 

Brumfield) . . 12 00 "^ John Ruggles, now John 

Hugh Prichard (now Pier- Ruggles sr. . . . 2 00 

poynt) . . . 12 00 Robert Willyams now Stevens 2 00 

John Scarborough, " Samuell 2 00 



Joshua Hews (now Polly) 


8 00 


John Gore 


8 00 


John Johnson, now Bowles 


6 06 


_ -- "1 




William Park, now Smith 


6 06 


Isaac Morell " Stevens 


6 00 


Isaac Heath " Bowles 


5 06 


Thos. Lamb " Aspinall 


5 00 


William Denison 

*2 

John Roberts, now Sumner 


4 00 


4 00 


*3 





''S 



Richard Pepper, now Scar- 
borough . . . 2 00 
Humphrey Johnson, now 
"j. Vi'illiaais . . 2 00 
Richard Woody, now Mr. 

Walter ... 01 08 

Richard Woody jr. now Mr. 

Walter ... 01 08 

John Woody, now Macarty 01 08 
Abraham Nowell, now Ma- 
William Cheney, now Thomas 4 00 carty . . . 01 08 
John Walson, now Brumfield 4 00 *6 



-*4 Edmund Pason, now Hol- 



John Watson, " Stodman 2 00 brook . . . 01 08 

Danl. Brewer, now Daniel Robert Gamblin, now Benj. 01 08 

Brewer . . . 2 06 Thomas Gardner, now Sam 

Isaac Johnson, now Seavcr 2 00 Williams ... 01 08 



Part I.] 



HISTORY OF ROXBURY. 



57 



[Robert Seaver in original] Edward Bridge . . 01 00 

^— *7 Abrani. How, now Isaac 01 00 

Edward Porter, now Mac- Gowin Anderson, now As- 
arty . . . . 01 03 pinwall . . . 01 00 

Christor. Peak, now Dor 01 03 *10 : 11 : 12 : 13 

*8 Robert Peper, now Pike 01 00 

Richard Peacock, now Dor 01 00 *14 

Francis Smith, now John 01 00 Peter Gardner, now Cheany 01 00 

*^9 Lewis Jones, now Ruggles 

John Mays . . . 01 00 tertius . . . 02 00 

John Hemingway • . 01 00 

It will be seen that the chief difference in this is the reduced rent, 
which occurs as early as 1674 ; the addition of very few names ; and the 
omission of those who, from their gifts of land, had had tlieir estates 
freed from rent, or from some other cause, if there was any other, were 
exempted from payment of rent. 

*1 Thomas Bell's name was here on 1st list. 
*2 Philip Eliot's name was here. 
*3 George Holmes " " 

''4 Samuel Finch " " 

*5 Giles Payson " " 

*6 John Stonnard [but he did not sign ye original.] 
*7 John Levinz was here. 
*8 Samuel Morgan was here. 
*9 Thomas Ruggles " " 

*10 Arthur Gary C ^ 

</ *11 Edward Bugby J Their names were here but they did not ! 
*12 Edward White | sign original themselves. f 

*13 William Levins |^ J 

*14 John Stebins. 

Robert Prentise [did not sign original.] 

The following is a list of the earlier teachers of the school, 
with the date when they served. 

Philip Eliot . . . . _ 
Stowe, probably — 



Hansford 

Daniel Weld . 

MihiU . 

John Prudden 
John Howe . 
Thomas Weld 
Thomas Bernard 
Joseph Greene . 
Andrew Gardiner 



Benjamin Thompson 

John Bowles . . 

1650 William Williams 

1665 Timothy Ruggles 

1666 Ebenezer Williams 
1668 Increase Walter . 

1673 Robert Stanton . 

1674 Thomas Foxcroft 
16S0 Ebenezer Pierpont 
1695 Henry Wise . . 
1698 Richard Dana . 



1700 
1703 
1705 
1708 
1709 
1712 
1713 
1714 
1716 
1718 
1719 



8 



58 



HISTORY OF ROXBURY. 



[Part L 



Benjamin Ruggles . 


. 1722 


Coolidge . . 


1753 


Thomas Weld . . 


1723 


James Greaton . . 


1756 


Ebenezer Pierpont . 


1726 


John Fairfield . . 


1758 


Joseph Mayhew . . 


1731 


Joseph Warren . . 


1760 


David Goddard . . 


. 1733 


Ebenezer Williams . 


1761 


Thomas Balch . . 


. 1734 


Benjamin Balch . . 


. 1763 


John Ballantine . . 


1736 


Samuel Parker . . 


1765 


Stephen Fessenden . 


1738 


Oliver Whipple . . 


1766 


Nathaniel Sumner . 


. 1740 


Increase Sumner 


1768 


John Newman . . 


1741 


Samuel Cherry . . 


1770 


Job Palmer . . . 


1743 


Ward Chipman . . 


. 1771 


Elisha Savel . . . . 


1744 


Joseph Prince . . 


1772 


Daniel Foxcroft . . 


1745 


John Eliot . . . 


1773 


Edward Holyoke . 


1746 


Benjamin Balch . . 


1774 


Solomon Williams . . 


1747 


Williams . . 


1774 


Merriam . . 


1750 


Thomas Marsh . . 


. 1775 


William Gushing . . 


1752 


Oliver Everett . . 


. 1776 



CHAPTER V. 

Toton Government. 

At a court held in 1635, *' it was ordered that all 
triviall things," &c. "should be ordered in the towns." 

The general laws of the colony belong to other 
works. Only those acts are here noted which belong 
to the town, or matters recorded there. 

I have not been able to discover any trace of the 
first organization of the town government. The vote 
of the town passed about 1649, and which is still 
legible that " ye five men shall have, for ye present 
yeare, full power to make and execute such orders as 
they, in their apprehension, shall think to be condu- 
cing to the good of the town," indicated that it was 
ot the simple form common in the colony, and that it 
was distinct from the parochial or church government. 
The five men as they were called for many years, 
being styled selectmen afterwards, were chosen annu- 
ally, by the body of the people, and had the general 
control of town affairs. For a long time they were 
the only town officers chosen. Though there seem 
to have been separate and distinct bodies to manage 
the affairs of the town and those of the church, many 
matters relating to parish affairs were transacted in 



60 HISTORV OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

the town meetings and are recorded in the town 
books, such as those relating to building, repairing, 
and arranging the meeting house, salaries for the pas- 
tors, and the like. The town was but one parish. 
The business was not kept distinct. Very likely if 
the church had been organized on the first settlement 
that would have been the only government. 

The colony law of 1631, forbidding any but church 
members from becoming freemen, shows that all had 
not equal privileges. It is probable that all were not 
regarded as entitled to act in town affairs. In 1659, 
the " non freemen chose Edward Denison to clear 
whether the non freemen may not have vote to choose 
commissioners and hee to see this cleared the next 
general court." 

Somewhat later, a question was raised as to the 
right of any but original proprietors or their heirs to 
have a voice in the disposition of town lands. 

But in general the records indicate that all matters 
promiscuously were brought before the whole body of 
the people. 

In 1652, orders for the town were drawn up. It 
was then ordered " by the body that they be entered 
in ye towne booke and from yeare to yeare, upon 
that day when the body meete for choice of officers 
and selectmen (being concluded to be in January) to 
be read over to the body which, if judged by the town 
to be for the town's good they shall remain in force 
for the next yeare," &c. 

It is further provided " in case any person shall, 
at any time, find himself aggrieved or judge himself 
wronged by any order or carriage of the selectmen 



Part 1.] history of roxburv. 61 

such person shall first complaine to the said five men 
and seeke satisfaction of them, and if he can, have 
satisfaction of them, and if not then to have liberty to 
appeal to the body to hear and decide the case but if 
such person complaine causelessly then he to pay 
double the fine imposed on him.'' 

In 1664, three men were chosen "to give the select- 
men orders that may be thought of for the selectmen 
to consider and establish for the good of the towne." 

Some of the earliest fivemen, or selectmen, were 

1647— Captaine Prichard 1653— Philip Eliot 
Lieut, {obscicre.) Isaac Morell 

John {obscure.) Thpriias Welde 

John Bowles Robert Willyams 

Brother Williams Edward Denison 

1650 Heath ^ 1654— John Johnson 

^ Griffin Crafts Thomas [obscure.) 

Dea. Eliot John Bowles 

Edward P. [obscure.) Edward [obscure) 

Thomas M. [obscure.) William Park 

/ 1652 — John Johnson 1655 — Edward Drayson 

v^ John Ruggles Isaac Morell 

Edward Denisou y/ John Ruggles 

/ Griffin Crafts ^ Griffin Crafts 

John Bowles John Pierpont 

They attest the oldest records, where there is any 
attestation. 

In 1665 the five men were allowed £5 per annum. 

In 1679 the order providing for their pay was re- 
pealed. 

It was not till 1666 that the town "voted to choose 
a clarke for the year ensuing and so remaine till the 
towne see cause to alter it. He is to keepe the 
towne records and buy another booke and have every 
thing exactly transcribed by the aforesaid clarke un- 



62 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

lesse such things as either are ridiklus or inconven- 
ent," &c. and that the selectmen direct what be wrote 
in the town booke. 

Edward Denison was chosen the first town clerk. 

The general laws for the government of the people 
were enacted by the general court. Though in some 
respects they would not do for our day, they still 
" evince not only their acknowledged love of liberty 
but a degree of practical good sense in legislation and 
a liberality of sentiment far greater than have usually 
been ascribed to them." 

Some traces of these are found in town papers. 

In 1669, 1671 and seven, persons were set on the 
gallows with a rope round their necks and suffered 
corporal punishment. 

In 1671 an Indian was executed and hung up in 
chains for murder. 

In 1673, a youth of seventeen being convicted of 
the horrible and abominable crime, and " being very 
stupid and hard hearted was excommunicated, and the 
beast was knocked on the head and slaine before his 
eyes." 

Excommunication was a common punishment for 
drunkenness and various crimes. 

In 1668, the county bridge being presented, a com- 
mittee was appointed " for the substantial erecting ot 
" the bridge, with power to impresse men to that 
" worke." 

Of the earliest town laws there are only a few 
scraps to be found on the decaying part of mutilated 
leaves. One of the earliest of these provides for pen- 
alties far taking rocks out of the highways, and leav- 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 63 

ing holes in the road. Very careful regulations were 
made for preventing fires, each person being obliged 
to provide ladders to the top of his house, &c. Oth- 
ers relate to the feeding at large of cattle, swine, &c. 
In 1656, a law was made prohibiting turkies from go- 
ing at large, against which a most earnest protest 
was entered. 

In 1655, a bounty of 30 shillings was given for a 
wolf's head. 1666, ten shillings were paid to John 
Crafts and Shubael Seaver for a wolf killing. 

The town passed license laws quite early. In 
1653, leave was " given John Gorton and Robert 
Pepper to brew and sell penny beare and cakes and 
white bread." In 1678, the town voted " that no 
wine nor liquors shall be sold at any ordinary in 
Roxbury," and that they would have but one ordina- 
ry in town. In 1725, a fine was remitted to Widow 
Sarah Pierpont for selling drink without license. In 
1730, Mr. Manser "prayed ye towne to forgive him 
ye fine laid on him for selling strong drink without li- 
cense and voted in ye negative." In 1734, it was 
earnestly recommended to the selectmen to have no 
more taverns or retailers in the town than is abso- 
lutely necessary. 

The town often passed laws regulating the prices 
at which grains "should pass current." Thus in 
1667, they voted that men should pay and receive, 
Indian at 3 sh. a bushel, peas at 3 sh. 8 pence. 
Barley and Malt at 4 shillings and 6 pence. Rye at 
4 shillings. In 1672, Rye and Barley were 4 shil- 
lings, Peas 4 sh. 6d., Indian 3 shil. In 1689, Wheat 
was 5 sh., Barley and Malt 3, 6. Indian 3 sh., Rye 



64 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

3 sh., Peas 4 sh. They were generally received for 
taxes. 

The town was cautious to prevent being charged 
with any stragglers, and early made a law that "if 
any person admit or receive any person or inmate in- 
to his house and keepe them over one weeke with- 
out leave of the selectmen, he shall be fined 20 shil- 
lings, and the selectmen are appointed to speak with 
some who have transgressed." And such warnings 
were much more frequent than they now iare. 

In 1733, a by-law was made "against running or 
galloping horses in calash, chaise, chair, cart, slay, or 
sled in ye town from Boston line to William Jervis, 
or in ye road to ye lower county bridge by ye mills 
or round ye square by Saml. Williams," with a pen- 
alty of 10 shiUings, and one half to the use of the 
town's poor. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Titles to Estates. 

At a Court of Assistants, on Thursday, May 21, 1629 — 

"The Court, taking into due and mature consideration how 
necessary it will be that a dividend be forthwith made of land in 
the London Plantation in New England both for the present ac- 
commodation of the people lately gone thither, as well to build 
them houses, as to enclose and manure, and to feed their cattle 
on, have thought fit and ordered, that the Governor, Deputy and 
Council there shall make a dividend accordingly and allot unto 
the several adventurers and others, as foUoweth, viz : 

That two hundred acres of land be by them allotted to each 
adventurer for £50 adventure in the common stock, and so after 
that rate, and according to that proportion, for more or less, as 
the adventure is, to the intent they may build their houses and 
improve their labors thereon. 

That every adventurer in the common stock, or his servant for 
him or on his behalf, shall make request or demand to the Gover- 
nor or Deputy and council, to have a proportion of land allotted 
unto him accordingly, and if, within ten days after such request 
or demand made, the same be not set out and allotted unto him 
then such person or persons are, by virtue of this act, permitted 
and authorized to seat him or themselves, and build his or their 
houses, and enclose and manure ground in any convenient place 
or places not formerly built upon or manured : provided that the 
land so made choice of by any such person or persons do not ex- 
ceed in quantity the one half of the land which is to be allotted 
unto him or them by dividend, according to the order above writ- 
ten ; with liberty also, when the first dividend shall be made, to 
9 



66 HISTORY OF ROXBURT. [ PaRT I. 

take his or their allotment of land as others do, in lieu of this, if 
in the mean time the first choice shall be disliked by them, or 
any of them. 

And for further explanation of this act, it is thought fit, that if 
the plot of ground whereon the town is to be built be set out, and 
that it be publicly known that it be intended for that purpose, that 
then no man shall presume to build his house in any other place, 
unless it be in the Mattachusetts Bay, and then according to such 
direction as shall be thought meet for that place. And in case 
his allotment for building his house within the plot of ground set 
out for building of the town be not appointed unto him within ten 
days after demand or request to the Governor or the Deputy and 
Council for the same, it shall be free for any, being an adventurer 
in the common stock, or his servant for him or on his behalf to 
build his house in any place within the said plot set out for the 
town, and to impale to the quantity of half an acre for each £50 
adventure in the common stock : unless a greater or lesser pro- 
portion be formerly determined by the Governor and Council, by 
which each builder is to be guided and directed. 

It is further thought fit and ordered, that all such as go over in 
person, or send over others at their own charge, and are adven- 
turers in the common stock, shall have lands allotted unto them 
for each person they transport to inhabit the Plantation, as well 
servants as all others : which fifty acres of land, so allotted to 
servants and others is hereby ordered to be set to and for the use 
of his master or setter forth, being an adventurer in the common 
stock to dispose of at his discretion in regard the master, &c. is 
at the charge of the said servant and others their transportation, 
wages and otherwise. But for such as being no adventurers in 
the common stock shall transport themselves and their families, it 
is ordered that fifty acres of land shall be allotted and set out for 
the master of the family, and such a proportion of the land more, 
if there be cause, as, according to their charge and quality the 
Governor and Council of the Plantation there shall think neces- 
sary for them, whereby their charge may be fully and amply sup- 
ported : unless it be to any with whom the company in London 
have or shall make any other particular agreement, to which re- 
lation is to be had in such case. 



Part 1.] history or roxbury. 67 

And to the end every adventurer may the more safely and 
peaceably enjoy their said lands allotted unto them or chosen by 
them, and the houses they build thereupon, as abovesaid, it is 
thought fit and ordered by this court, that conveyances shall be 
made thereof unto each particular man for the land he possesseth, 
in the Company's name, and the common seal of the Company to 
be thereunto affixed by the Governor and Council there, at the 
charge of the Company, which common seal is by this court 
thought fit and ordered to be committed to the charge and keep- 
ing of the Governor for the time being and in his absence to his 
deputy there." 

This was the law for the division of lands in the 
colony. But titles in the early times of the colony 
were not granted, transferred or evidenced with the 
same formality as now*. Although it is questionable 
whether a mere note of a proprietary, or the body of 
the town, without any deed or location in pursuance 
of such vote, would pass lands to an individual at this 
day, "it is well known that almost all the titles which 
have been derived from proprietors of townships have 
nothing better to depend upon than a vote recorded 
in the proprietor's books : and where possession was 
taken in conformity to the vote, and transmitted by 
the grantee to his heirs or assigns, titles so acquired 
have been respected and maintained in our courts of 
law." 

Such is the language of the Supreme Court of this 
State. And, considering the many causes to render 
the records of this town for the first few years imper- 
fect, they could not reasonably be expected to be more 
complete than we find them. It is doubtful whether 
any town has more perfect ones, in respect to titles. 

By the colony act of 1634, it was provided that 
the constables and four more of the chief inhabitants 



68 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

of every town, to be chosen by all the freemen there, 
with the advice of the next assistants, shall make a 
surveying of the houses, backsides, cornfields, mowing 
grounds, &c. &c. of every free inhabitant, and shall 
enter the same in a book with the several bounds, and 
deliver a transcript thereof into the court within six 
months, and the same so entered and recorded, shall 
be a sufficient assurance, &c. &c. and the like course 
shall be taken for all such as shall be hereafter en- 
franchised, &c. 

The practice in division of land seems to have been, 
either for the court to grant land for individuals, or, 
what was more common, for the settlers themselves 
to take up lands for the first few years, till the incor- 
poration or grant of a town, and after that time for 
all grants to be made by the towns. 

The following extracts from the colony records con- 
tain the earliest matters concerning the grant to the 
Town. 

1636. Ordered, that all the rest of the ground lying betwixt 
Dorchester bounds and Boston bounds shall belongs to the 
towne of Roxbury easterly of Charles River except the property 
of the aforesaid townes which they have purchased of particular 
persons. Roxbury not to extend above eight miles in length 
from their meeting house. 

1637. Four thousand acres were granted to Roxbury. 

1640. The four thousand acres to be set out in four places at 
the most. 

16th of 3d m. 1638. Report of men appointed to certify bounds 
between Roxbury and Dedham, (together with the lands pur- 
chased by Dedham.) 

Drew " an equal line of division by marked trees and stakes 
from S. E. side of Roxbury bounds by a straight N. W. line run- 
ning until it touch upon Charles River. Furthermore, in consid- 



Part 1.] history of roxbury. 69 

eration of some streightness at the Westmost end of Roxbury 
bounds by reason of the course of the River it is mutually agreed 
that a portion of meadow shall belong unto Roxbury which join- 
eth towards the northeast upon Roxbury and bounded to the S.E. 
by certain marked trees from the line of division aforesaid, (com- 
prehending a narrow strip of upland) unto a point of upland on 
the bound of the marsh and from thence by the Nmost point of a 
little hillock of upland in the marsh straight on to the River. 

Edw. Alleyn, 
Geo. Alcock, 
John Oliver. 

The boundary of Roxbury and Dedham was long 
unsettled. In 1650, a committee was chosen to ne- 
gotiate about it. But it was not finally adjusted till 
1697. 

1639, llih mo. " A committee having full authority from the 
Town to end all controversee concerning ye line of partition be- 
tween Boston and Roxbury, at Muddy River, concerning which 
some doubt hath been made, have agreed that the trees marked," 
&c. " be the bounds." 
Will. Colbron, ) John Gore, % 

Will. Tynge, [ Boston. ^Joseph W^eld, / Roxbur 
Jacob Eliot, ) ^Tolin Johnson, i ^' 

Willm. Parke, ^ 

To the Honor'd Court assembled at Boston. 
1643, 8 mo. Whereas it pleased this honored court some three 
years since to grant unto (obscure) certain farmes and the place 
appointed where they should lye, which was between Sudbury, 
Dedham and Watertown, but soe that the bounds of Dedham 
were not layed out therefore it pleased this court to grant them 
a tyme to lay out their bounds, which being past, ye humble pe- 
tition is that this court will now be pleased to appoint men to lay 
out ye farmes according to the former grant, &c. 

Tho. Dudley 416 

William Tomson 200 

Rich. Browne 200 

Isaac Heath 256 



^0 HISTORY 


OF ROXBURY. [1 


r'ART 


On the foregoing is this 


/Joseph Weld 


278 


order. 


Richard Parker 


436 


" Dedham has 3 wks. for to 


/ John Johnson 


100 


set their bounds. Then Rox- 


Joshua Hues 


288 


bury to have the residue of 


Isaac Morrill 


204 


their 4000 acres between 


William Park 


181 


Watertown, Sudbury and 


Thos. Bell 


166 


Dedham," &c. &c. 


/ Mr. Thomas Weld 


353 




Philip Eliot 


333 




Samuel Hugh.* 


177 




Gorg Holmes 


162 




John Gore 


188 




Gorg Alcock 


242 




William Denison 


267 




John Stow 


253 




William Kane 


400 



* This is doubtless contracted for Hugburne. 



The earliest trace met with, of any thing relative 
to the town grants, is in a deposition of William 
Curtis, aged 73, taken in 1666, which states he " was 
appojnted by ye towne to be a measurer to lay out 
severall parcels of land that was granted to sundry in- 
habitants and amongst them a piece of meadow grant- 
ed to John Compton, then an inhabitant of Roxbury. 
It was bounded south and east all along by the brooke 
and north by land of John Freeborne." These names 
are early ones. Compton was a freeman in 1634. 
The fact that the deposition of an old man was re- 
quired to be taken shows that the allotment was an 
ancient one. Probably the lots surveyed were among 
the earliest town grants. On the first page of Town 
Records (almost illegible) is a vote to allot to those 
who pay town rates out of the town lands not dis- 
posed of. (1647.) 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 71 

The town continued, for many years, to make 
grants to individuals, without compensation, and on 
these many titles in the town depend. They are 
generally entered with little formality, often giving 
merely the number of acres, without any boundary. 
In several instances conditions are annexed to the 
grants, so that on breach of those conditions the land 
will revert to the town. 

In 1648, a grant of six acres was made to William 
Lyon, afterward six to George Brown, six to John 
Stebbin, and so on to others, forming, when all col- 
lected together, a long list, extending over nearly a 
hundred years, which is too long to be here inserted. 
In some, the locations can be traced, but not in many. 

In 1655, a grant was made to Tobias Davis of six 
or seven acres for a corn mill and fulling mill. 

In 1675, the clay pitts were granted to Ralph 
Hemingway. 

The grant to John Grosvenor at the bridge and 
old mill was "for liming leather, in fee, and not to 
sell but for said use and to be forfeit if it damage the 
water for cattle or man." 

Joseph Peak had a grant at Hog's Bridge "for 
dressing wash leather." 

A grant was made to Moses Draper near Stony 
River bridge, by Dedham road, for a blacksmith's 
shop, to him and his successors, for this use and no 
other. 

Some of these grants are on condition that the lots 
be built on within a certain period. 

Quite a list of those who lived on the street can 
be formed from the grants of lands "back of their 



72 HISTORY OF ROXBIJRY. PaRT I.] 

houses to the brooke," Smelt JBrook or Town 
Brook. 

The town vote for all the inhabitants to render in 
an account of their lands to be recorded and a tran- 
script of the record to be returned into court, which 
was the origin of "The Ancient Transcript," written 
by Goodmrin Denison and certified by the five men, 
has been already given. 

This transcript would probably be deemed sufficient 
evidence of title. The only difficulty in tracing titles 
by it is the want of courses and distances, the mere 
names of abutters being given, because of the lands 
having been divided in several allotments, each per- 
son owning many lots in various parts of the town. 
The homesteads, however, may be traced, and with 
sufficient pains, probably most of the lots. 

In 1662, the town voted that no more land be 
given away, but that it be kept for the town's use. 
This vote, however, was not observed. 

In 1692-3, the selectmen were directed to consult 
authority and obtain their judgment concerning the 
right proprietors of the common lands. Some claim- 
ed that they belonged to the first proprietors and not 
to the body at large. 

The Town had various grants of land made to it 
by the Legislature. Some have been named. 

In 1733, there was a vote of the town to get the 
general court to lay out "the balance of the 4000 
acres because Dedham shortens us." 

In 1736, the records were inspected and directions 
given to the representative concerning that grant. 

In 1715, on petition of Stephen Williams and oth- 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 73 

ers, 500 acres were granted to the town towards sup- 
port of the free school. 

1683. was granted from Massachusetts a tract seven 
miles square at Quatosset, called also '* the grant of 
land in the Nipmuck country," from the Indian tribe 
of that- name. This was afterwards called New Rox- 
bury, and is now Woodstock in Connecticut. It was 
at first supposed to be in Massachusetts. The grant 
was on condition of settling within two years, and 
" maintaining amongst them an able and orthodox 
godly minister." 

The selectmen first sent out three men, (John Rug- 
gles, John Curtis and Isaac Morris, as appears by the 
bills paid them,) who reported that " at Seneksuk and 
Wapagusset the lands afiforde encouragement for set- 
tlers," and then the town provided a field and allow- 
ed any men to go to view the lands, at their own 
charge. In 1685, the town "voted cleare to treat 
with Mr. Stoughton and Mr. Dudley, guardians to 
Josiah, grandson of Chickatabut, the well known sa- 
chem, to obtain the Indian or natives right." In 
1687-8, the town paid Jos. Dudley £10 for the pur- 
chase of the natives right to the township. 

In order to settle this place, the town voted that 
" if thirty men should hand in their names to the se- 
lectmen to settle them, they shall have one half of 
the whole tract in one square at their selection, the 
town to assist said planters and settlers with £100, to 
be paid in small sums in five years, and to be laid out 
in public buildings as the old town ot Roxbury shall 
determine, the rest of the inhabitants to have the re- 

10 



74 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

maining half", and the settlers to be free from the rate 
to raise the £100." 

The affairs of this place fill the records for quite a 
number of years. The lands were finally divided in 
proportion to each man's head and estate, the castle 
soldiers and troopers being added, and all such as 
were over sixteen years of age. The allotments and 
divisions are given at length in the Roxbury records, 
which contain the first history of the town. Very 
many ol the inhabitants of Woodstock are descended 
from the first settlers of Roxbury. 

This copy of a letter from the selectmen of Wood- 
stock to those of Roxbury, may be worth preserving. 
" 1694, Dec. 18. Gentlemen, we understand by 
" Capt. Chapen that you are dissatisfied upon a re- 
" port that ye town had preferred a petition to ye 
" Hartford Court, designing to wrong you. As you 
" desire to be informed whether it was a town's act 
" or particular men's act, we can assure you it was 
" by no town voate or act, nor yet by order of the 
" selectmen. It was done by some particular per- 
" sons. And we do not know that they intended you 
'* any harm. 

" This with our love and service to you is from 
" your loving friends, 

Benj. Sabins, 
John Butcher, 
John Carpenter, 
Edwd. Morris, 
John Holmes." 



CHAPTER VII. 

Miscellaneous. 

1636. The Roxbury people worked on the forti- 
fication at Cornhill, (Boston.) 

1646. "This year, about the end of the 5th 
month, we had a very strong hand of God upon us, 
for upon a suddaine, innumerable armys of catterpil- 
lars filled the country all over all the English planta- 
tions, which devoured some whole meadows of 
grasse, and greatly devoured barley, being the most 
grown, and tender corne, eating off all the blades 
and beards, but left the corne, only many ears they 
quite eat off by eating the green straw asunder below 
the eare, so that barley was generally half spoiled ; 
likewise they much hurtwheate, by eating the blades 
off, but wheate had the lesse hurte because it was a 
little forwarder than barley, or harder and dryer, and 
they lesse meddled with it. As for rye, it was so 
hard and near ripe, that they touched it not. But 
above all grains they devoured oats. And in some 
places they fell upon Indian corne and quite devoured 
it, in other places they touched it not. They would 
crosse highways by 1000. 

Much prayer there was made to God about it, and 
fasting in divers places, and the Lord heard, and on a 



76 HISIORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRI I. 

suddai'ne took them all away again in all parts of the 
country, to the vvoriderment of all men. It was the 
Lord, for it was done suddainelj." 

1646. "This winter w^as one of the mildest we 
ever had ; no snow all winter long ; nor sharp weath- 
er. We never had a bad day to goe preach to the 
Indians all this w^inter, praised be the Lord." 

1647. The same yeare "a greate sicknesse epi- 
demical did the Lord lay upon us, so that the great- 
est part of the towne was sick at once, whole fami- 
lies jsick, young and old, none escaping, English or 
Indian. 

" The nature was a cold, &c. 

" God's colds are teaching. This epidemicall sick- 
nesse of cold doth rightly, by a divine hand, tell the 
churches what their epidemical spirit disease is. — 
God help us to see it: and to have such colds in the 
height of the heat of summer, shows us that, in the 
height of the means of grace^ peace, liberty of ordi- 
nances, &c., yet may we then fall into malignant 
colds, apostacys, and coolings. And this is remarka- 
ble that, tho few died, yet some died, and those were 
the choycest flowers and most gracious saints." 

1661-2. "A synod at Boston. The questions dis- 
cussed were — 

1. Who are the subjects of Baptism. 

2. Who according to Scripture ought to be a con- 
sociation of churches and what is the name of it." 

1662. "It pleased God this spring to exercise the 
country with a severe drought, but some were so rash 
as to impute it to the sitting of the Synod. But God 
was pleased to bear witness against their rashness. 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 77 

For no sooner was the Synod met, June 10, but they 
agreed to set the next day apart to ask God's favora- 
ble presence and to ask rain ; and the day following, 
God sent raine from heaven." 

1663. Jan. 26, an earthquake occurred. 

1664. Nov. 17, a comet was seen and its position 
is described. March 11, another comet was seen. 

1665. Another earthquake is spoken of. 

1666. The town paid for diet and attendance of 
a lame Indian £1 : 6 sh. 

The same year, they paid "for match and bullets 
for the town, also for bisket and the Indian's bed," 
&c., and further "for ringing ye bell, expenses about 
a lame Indian and for soldiers that were pressed to 
the castle." 

1667. "11th month 4th day. There were strange 
noises in the air, like guns, drums, vollies of greate 
shotte," &c. 

1667. "12th month 29th, appeared a coma, or 
blazing stream, which extended to a small star in the 
river Eridamus, but the star was hid by reason of its 
proximity to the sun." 

1668. The town paid for "carriage of the Greate 
Gunne and for warders on election." 

This year the inhabitants were prohibited digging 
any more clay at Boston Gate. The reason was that 
the town was indicted that year for digging up the 
highway at the gate and paid for it. 

There was the shock of an earthquake felt this 
year. And in the 3d month, 16th day, prodigies 
were seen in the heavens the night before the Lord's 
day. 



T8 HISTORY OF ROXBURT. [pART I. 

1678. The small pox raged terribly. 

1688. The town chose Samuel Ruggles and Na- 
thaniel Holmes representatives, and instructed them 
to do "what they can to establish a government for 
the present as the general assembly shall think for 
public good." But afterwards they voted that "they 
desire the Governor, deputy and assistants sworn in 
1686 to remain." 

1691. "The old Watch House" is named "in the 
towne street," and provision was made for a new one 
on the meeting-house hill, and another at the plain, 
and the town granted to John Howard "the old 
Watch House, &c., fifty foot back towards the brook, 
for that he w^ill build the new one, he to dig for foun- 
dations, &c., and to lay a good substantial wall of 
stone two feet thick, in clay, and pointed within and 
without, walls to be six feet high by thirteen feet 
long by eleven feet wide inside and a brick chimney 
at one end, and cover the roof with deal boards and 
shingles, and to provide a stout door and lock and 
key." But the town did not build this. A new one 
was built on the town street and another at the plain, 
a few years after. 

1693. Edward Weld was chosen clerk of the 
market. 

1696. The Representatives to general court were 
paid 18 pence a day in money or corn at the rate. 

1681. The town paid Ensign Davis four shillings 
and six pence for work about the meeting house and 
"cage." The cage was then common for punish- 
ment, but has given way to houses of correction, &c. 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 79 

or jails. The word jail is said to be derived from 
the old name of the cage. 

1631. Wheat meal cost fourteen shillings a bushel, 
peas eleven and sixpence, &c. 

1633. There was a scarcity of corn, but people 
lived well with fish and the fruits of their gardens. 

1634. Corn was four shillings the bushel, some 
at three, and some cheaper. 

1634. Cattle were high. A good cow 25/. or 
30/. A pair of bulls or oxen 40/. Corn was five 
shillings a bushel. Carpenters had three shillings 
the day. Board was nine or ten shillings. 

1643. There was a long cold and wet time, and 
it caused a great scarcity of corn, and in every town 
many families had to live on fish, muscles, &c. 

In 1640-1, there was a change in public affairs in 
England, which so affected things here that a cow 
which the year before was worth 20/. could not then 
be sold for more than 4/. or 51. , and nobody could 
pay his debts. This caused the colony to send out 
agents, of whom Mr. Weld was one. 

In 1 645, in a deed from John Stonehead to Thomas 
Dudley, two oxen are valued at 15/. ready money. 

In 1646, a cow brought 4/., a cow and calf 61., a 
yoke of oxen 14/. ; English wheat was worth four 
shillings a bushel, peas three shillings eight pence, 
rye three shillings six pence. 

In 1651, a cow was worth 5/., a yoke of oxen 16/. 
a horse 16/. 

In 1658, a cow was worth SI. to 4/., a yoke of oxen 
10/., a horse 13/., Indian corn was at two shillings 



80 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT 1. 

per bushel, malt at four shillings, butter was five 
pence a pound, cotton cloth sold for three shillings. 

In 1683, a cow brought 2/. to 31. , sheep 5 shillings 
a head, butter three pence. 

In 1658, twelve acres of land on Stony River was 
worth 48/., land at Gravelly point was held at 50/. 
per acre. 

In 1661, land at Roxbury Gate (next Boston) was 
valued at 61. an acre. 

In 1668, nine acres, •' as you go to Boston," was 
valued at 100/., and four acres at Pine Island at 40/. 

In 1683, six acres of pasture on the south side of 
the Great Hill was worth 24/., four acres of marsh in 
the Island at 38/., two of fresh meadow at Bare 
marsh, 8/. 

In 1697, thirteen acres of plow land in the calve's 
pasture was worth 120/. 

Wampumkeage, or Wampum, is frequently named 
in the old lists of estates. 

People were well supplied w^th arms. For in- 
stance, in the parlor of Isaac Morrill, were hung up a 
musket, a fowling piece, three swords, two belts of 
bandoleers, a pike, a half pike and a corslett. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Ancient Localities. 

Various localities are constantly named and referred 
to in ancient documents. Some of these will be 
found useful in tracing out titles and estates. 

Boston Gates were at the line. Boston Neck ex- 
tended from this line one mile and thirty nine yards 
to the fortification, built of brick, with a ditch, where 
there were two gates, one for foot passengers and one 
for carriages. They were originally for defence. 
Those at Roxbury line were probably of similar char- 
acter, though less strong. 

Clay Pits. These were near the street, where the 
town's people used to dig clay for various purposes. 
They were East of Roxbury-street and North of Dud- 
ley-street. In 1675 the town granted them to Ralph 
Hemingway. An indictment was once found for dig- 
ging up clay at Boston gate. 

The Landing Place. Some care must be taken 
not to be misled by this name. There were two land- 
ing places. When what is now the empty basin and 
the back bay was full, the town had one on the north 
of the meeting house hill. The other was at the 
point that extends down to the wharf, ait w rin e' mouth of ' 
fe tonyEiwoBi 

U 



82 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT 1. 

Gravelly Point, was the point that runs out into 
the bay at the mouth of Stony River, towards Cam- 
bridge. 

Bass Point, is a name met with for the few first 
years. 

Mills. A water mill was built at Roxbury, in 
1633, by one Dummer. I have seen two depositions 
taken in perpetuam, in 1702, of William Gary, then 
aged 75, and John Ruggles sr. aged 70, in which they 
say that they remember that fifty years before then 
the tide mill was " Baker's Mill," and so called, and 
that father Baker bought a piece of land for gravel on 
the other side of the creek, and that ever since their 
remembrance Thomas Lamb and his successors had 
enjoyed the lane towards the mill, maintaining a 
good and sufficient gate somewhere in the lane. This 
was in the east of the town. Traces of a mill still 
remain near Parker street. In 1684, the interest of 
Thomas Baker (the son of John) " in the irons, 
stones, land and privilege of the old tide mill in part- 
nership," was valued at £15. 
■>/ In 1655, leave was granted to John Johnson and 
others to set down a mill, &c. in or near the place 
where the old mill stood, provided they maintain a 
cart bridge sufficient for the town. 

In 1656, liberty was granted to John Pierpont for 
setting a Fulling mill on Stony River. 

In 1663, an " old mill" is named which stood on 
Stony River, near the place where the Providence 
railroad crosses Tremont road, and is now known as 
Wait's rtfi+h*"- 

There was a very ancient mill built* to •guftd,.fer 



Part 1.] history of roxbury. 83 

Roxbiiryand Boston, (i. e. Brookline or Muddy River, 
then part of Boston,) which stood at the northeast 
corner of Jamaica pond, at the outlet ; many old pa- 
pers are met with relative to it^ and the drawing ofif 
the pond. Farther up in town was a saw mill, on 
Saw Mill Brook. 

Muddy River, was the water which still stands in 
Brookline, near the Punch Bowl. 

Stony River, is the stream that runs by Wait's mill, 
and the corner of Centre street, under Hog's bridge. 
There w^as a weir here in 1631. 

Smelt Brook, runs under the roads at the foot of 
Dudley and Washington streets, between Guild Hall 
and the Universalist church. Mr. Young, the com- 
piler of the Massachusetts chronicles, probably came 
out some hot dusty afternoon to find it, and not seeing 
any thing like it there, concluded it must be the 
brook "between the town and Dorchester;" but, 
though it is hid by the great thoroughfares that pass 
over it, it was once a considerable stream, and there 
was once a large watering place there. This w^as al- 
so once known as " The Brook," and the " Town 
Brooke," &c. The stream that divides the town from 
Dorchester was called " Dorchester Brooke." 

Saw Mill Brook, is the stream vou first cross as 
you come from Spring street church towards the Plain, 
by the upper road. 

The Great Hill, is now known as Parker's Hill, as 
well as by its ancient name. 

The Great Pond, is Jamaica Pond, 

Clapboard Hill, is the name of the large hill in the 
south part of the town, between Muddy pond and 



84 HISTORY OF ROXBTJRY. pART 1.] 

Flaggy meadow. It was also known as "Flax Hill." 
One might think there would be little danger of such 
places being forgotten, and that there could hardly 
be any question about their identity ; but as long ago 
as 1728^ the depositions of some Connecticut people 
were taken to fix the location of this hill. The pres- 
ent name is said to have been given from some clap- 
boards having been burned there. 

Walk Hill, still bears the ancient name. On an 
old plan I find the name of Pig's Walk. There was 
a hill which for the first fifty years was called Pig's 
Hill. It may be the same. 

The Training Place. The Old Training Place is 
named in the Ancient Transcript. In 1631 the court 
ordered that on the first Thursday of every month 
there should be a general training of captain Under- 
bill's company at Roxbury and Boston. This must 
have been a famous place in those days. Training 
meant something then. The Training field was east 
of the street, or Roxbury Street, and contained seven 
acres or more, extending along where Warren and 
Washington streets unite. The Town had only a 
right in it for training. In 1762 they sold that to 
Joseph Weld. 

The Common lay south of the road leading to Dor- 
chester. " Common Lands" are, however, not to be 
confounded with this. They are often named in an- 
cient deeds, and refer to lands in the several divisions 
which had not then been allotted. Twenty eight 
acres of the Town Common was sold to Joseph Wil- 
liams in 1763, for £1431 16 shillings. The wood 



Part 1.] HISTORY of roxbury. 85 

then sold for £1787 3sh. 2d. Fifty four acres were 
sold in 1812. 

Remington's Paradise, was on the road to Brook- 
line, near what is now called Parker Street. This 
name occurs in 1653, and was given for the owner. 
There is a place there still known by the name of 
Paradise. 

Sprins; Street was named in 1690. 

Jamaica Plain. The following account of this 
name is given by the late pastor of the church at the 
Plain. "Jamaica Plain, from its proximity to the 
pond, was originally called ' Pond Plain.' How it 
changed its name has never been really ascertained. 
There are many legends upon this inquiry, but none 
of them entirely satisfactory. One is, that it was so 
baptized in consequence of gentlemen from Jamaica 
spending their summers there ; which circumstance, 
if true, might at once account for it. But it cannot 
be ascertained, that any other than Timothy Penny, 
Esq. who came to this country not earlier than 1767, 
ever had a residence here ; whereas Hugh Thomas, 
April 7th, 1677, ninety years previous, conveyed his 
property for the benefit of a school ' to the people at 
the Jamaica end of the town of Roxbury.' 

'' Another more probable, but not altogether satis- 
factory account is, that a gentleman by the name of 

, from some unknown cause, disliking his wife, 

quitted London, informing her that he was going to 
Jamaica on business. Hearing nothing from him for 
a very long period, she at length embarked for Ja- 
maica, in expectation of finding him there. But, to 
her great surprise, she could not learn that he had ev- 



86 tiisfORY OF iioxnuiiv. [Pari I. 

er been at the Island. And a vessel from that place 
going direct to Boston, she took passage, arrived safe, 
and having freciuently related the circumstance, at 
leniTth obtained accidental intellio-ence that an En- 
glishman had for some time past been residing with a 
poor family in Roxburj, ' at the Pond Plain ;' where, 
most Ltnwelcomely to himself, she actually found him. 
The story of his saying he was going to Jamaica, was 
so often and ludicrously told, that the inhabitants de- 
risivehj, at first, called it Jamaica Plain, which name 
it has since retained. 

•' The last, and to me most probable account! have 
heard was, that the Indians, who at that time were 
numerous here, used frequently to go to the street in 
Roxbury for rum, and having accidentally met with 
some Jamaica spirit, that greatly pleased them, they 
would afterwards inquire for it, saying " Indian love 
Jamaica ;" in consequence of which, the retailers cal- 
led them 'Jamaica' folks or Indians; from which cir- 
cumstance, the name b(!came gradually familiar, and 
all the inhabitants of this part of the town at length 
acquired the name of 'Jamaica' Plain peoi)le, instead 
of Pond Plain, as they had been usually called be- 
fore." 

But it seems hard to say which of them is most im* 
probable, or to see what basis of fact the two last ac- 
counts, or the last especially, have more than the iirst. 
If it is certain that gentlemen from Jamaica did not 
make this loveliest of spots their summer residence in 
1677, it is just as certain that there was no poor fam- 
ily for a nameless London gentleman to live with ; 
" all the people of Roxbury were very rich," and this 



Part I.] history of roxdury. 87 

lady who was never heard of before or since, AAould 
hardly have named it. Jamaica, from all the concern 
that place had in her affairs. Furthermore, it does 
not appear that the Indians here were numerous, at 
any time, or that they used to go often to the street 
for rum. It is altogether likely from Eliot's princi- 
ples and influence and care for the natives, and the 
persons who traded in town, that Roxbury Street was 
the last place an Indian would go to for any thing of 
the sort. 

The name was well known in 1677. It was writ- 
ten Jamaco, Jemaco, and Jameco. The name Jama- 
co End was used. " Pond Plain" does not appear to 
have been the earliest. 

Weedy Plain was at the west part of the town. 

Squirrels Delight^ was near Quenecticote lane, by 
Jamaica pond, towards Brookline. 

Pine Island, was towards Dorchester, in the bay ; 
" on the river that leads to Dorchester tide mill," 
where the magazine is. 

The Wolf Traps were towards Dorchester. 

The Foxholes were west of Back or Walnut street. 

Totman's Rocks, or Tatman's, were near the cor- 
ner where the pump stands at the corner of Centre 
and Cross streets. The name was from John Tot- 
man, who lived there. 

The Calves^ Pastures were on the road to Dor* 
Chester. They embraced some marsh land. 

The Thousand Acres were next to Dedham, and 
are explained in connection with the town's bounda- 
ries. 

Gamblings End, was near School street, near Stony 



88 HISTORY OF ROXbURY. [PaRT 1. 

River. The name was probably given from Robert 
Gamblin, who lived next to Thomas Bell, on what is 
now School street. 

The " Salt Panns^^ were at the east end of the 
town, towards the bay next Dorchester. 

The NookSi are very often referred to in old docu- 
ments, and often create perplexity. I find the name 
was used for certain points of land, or knolls, that 
made out into the meadows near the streams, and the 
nooks next Dorchester and those on Stony River are 
named. The name now conveys quite a different 
idea. 

Rocky Swamp it is hard to identify. Several roads 
in different parts of the town lead to "Rocky Swamp." 
The chief one extended from what is now known as 
Tommy's Rock, up to Stony River, through the val- 
ley. The road from Philip Eliot's, through Gamblin's 
End, led to Rocky Bottom. 

Pritchard^s Island was a marsh, at the mouth of 
Stony River. From an old deed executed by five of 
the chief men ot the town, as " atturneyes" of Hugh 
Pritchard, granting to a large number of individuals 
various portions of this marsh, it appears that this is 
" an island now, by reason of the creeke that hath 
been digged between the same and the land of John 
Johnsons," and with the land, part of this creek was 
granted. 

" Black Neck'''' is a name which occurs, the place 
is not known. 

Haehurn's Neck. In 1694, the town voted "that 
the lane which goeth out of the highway to the tide 
mill and leadeth downe toward Gravelly Point, be- 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 89 

tween the land of the heirs of Mr. Samuel Danforth 
and those of Mr. Haeburn, commonly called Mr. Hae- 
burn's Neck, should be lajed open from the said high- 
way to the tide mill," &c. 

Dudleys Neck, was north of the road leading to 
Brookline. 

Bear Marshy or Bare Marsh. The highway which 
led " from the Dedham road at Policy's," (the corner 
at Mr. Stephen M. Welds',) » by Mr. John Welds," 
(the street now South street,) led to a bear marsh, 
which was off at the south of the Plain, towards Dor- 
chester and Milton. It embraced the meadows upon 
the head waters of Stony River. 

Meeting house Hill is where the first church stands. 
Meeting house Lane is that part of Washington street 
which leads up to it. 



12 



CHAPTER IX. 

Accounts of the first settlers, their families, residences, d^c. 

This contains every name in the town to the year 
1650, so far as they are recorded in the various rec- 
ords of births, deaths and marriages of the town, and 
the first parish. 

George Abbot married Mary Chandler, Dec. 12, 1646. This 
is probably the one named by Farmer as having come from York- 
shire and settled in Andover in 1647, and married Hanna 
Chandler. 

Mr. George AlcocJc came with the first company to Eoxbury in 
1630. He was deacon of the church and representative to the 
first General Court in 1634. His son John, who was born in 
England, came out with his father, and graduated at Harvard 
College in 1646. He was a physician. Deacon George had 
son Samuel, born 1637, April 16. His homestead of five acres 
was south of Governor Dudley's, fronting east on the highway, 
and west on the meeting house common. He died December 30, 
1640. He had a brother Thomas, who was one of the first men 
in Dedham. His sister married Edward Porter. "When the 
people of Rocksbrough joyned to the church at Dorchester until 
such time as God should give them opportunity to be a church 
among themselves, he was by the church chosen express to be a 
deacon to regard the brethren at Rocksbrough." "He made two 
visits to England upon just calling thereunto." "He lived in a 
good and godly sort and left a good savor behind him, the poor 
of the church much bewailing him." 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 91 

John Alcock had twins, Ann and Sarah, born May 26, 1650. 
Joanna died 1649, August 5. In 1668, Doctor Alcock bought a 
house and eighteen acres, close to the church, of John Pierpont. 

Henry Archer married Elizabeth Stow, in 1639. She was 
daughter of John. Henry Archer may have been the one at 
Ipswich, in 164L 

James Astwood came in 1637. His wife was named Sarah. — 
He had James, born Nov. 29, 1638 : John, born Sept. 20, 1640, 
died March 15, 1644 : John, born March 7, 1641 : Joseph, born 
Nov. 19, 1643: Joseph, Nov. 10, 1644: Sarah, born Jan. 10, 
1646 : Mary, born Dec. 21, 1647. He was dismissed to Boston. 
His homestead, was next to Philip Eliot's, west of Stony River, 
and contained four acres. After his death in 1654, his estate 
was declared insolvent. 

Thomas Baker, whose wife was Elizabeth, had children, John : 
Sarah, wife of Jabez Jackson : Marya, wife of Roger Adams : 
Elizabeth, born Oct. 2, 1641: Joseph, born Feb. 24,1647: his 
house lott of one half an acre was next the land belonging to the 
mill which he owned — he died in 1683. His will says he was 
"old and blinde." His father was John Baker, who was freeman 
in 1634, 

Gregory Baxter, freeman in 1631 ; had Bathesbie, born June, 
1632 : Abigail, born Sept. 1634 : John, born Dec. 1, 1639. 

Thomas Bell came in 1635, was made freeman in 1636 ; he 
had Sarah, born 1640 : John, born 1643, died 1643, 4ih month. 
His homestead was on School street, then the road to Gamblin's 
end. His old house was torn down in 1765, and the present one 
built in 1768, at the corner of Boylston street. His will is dated 
January 29th, 1671, and was proved May 30, 1672. He left 
Roxbury, had letters of dismission in 1654, and died in England, 
but will be remembered as long as the free school endures, for he 
gave to it all his property here, a bequest which, at the time was 
a very great one, and which, with its accumulations, now renders 
this institution one of the most richly endowed in the country. 
A few more such would have made this school a college. 



92 History of RoxBURt. [Part L 

George Brand married Malhew Heath in 1643, his house lot 
of one-half an acre was bounded "one side on Stony River, and 
every way else on the common." 

Daniel Bruer, or Brewer, was freeman in 1634 ; he had a son 
Nathaniel, born May 1, 1635: Sarah, born March 8, 163S.— 
Another son of his died in 1646. His son Daniel graduated at 
Harvard College in 16S7,and was a minister at West Springfield. 
He died in 1689, at the age of 84. George Brewer died, 1646. 

Edward Brigge, or Bridge, or Bridges, was freeman in 1639 ; 
he had Thomas, born May 31, 1638. He died in 1683, aged 82. 
He lived on the Dorchester road, west of George Holmes', where 
he had eight acres. 

John Bowies, or Bovi^elis, Was freeman in 1640. He was for a 
long time one of the most important men in town affairs, being 
one of the feoffees of school, and often one of the five-men. He 
was ruling Elder of the church. In 1689-90, he was Speaker 
of the Court. He lost his wife, Dorothy, in 1649. In 1649, he 
married Elizabeth Heath. He died in 1691. He had a daugh- 
ter Elizabeth, 1650. 

John Burrell, whose wife was Sarah, had a daughter Sarah in 
1634. 

Thomas Bumstead, whose wife was Susan, brought two small 
children, Thomas and Jeremiah. Anna was born Jan. 20, 1639, 
Hannah in 1641, Mary in 1642, Gerard in 1643. He was dis- 
missed to Boston, and died 1677. 

Edward Bugby, or Boogby — Joseph, born June 6, 1640. An 
infant born and died, 1642. His property in 1668 was invento- 
ried and appraised at £336: 06: 06. The home lot of three acres 
with his house, which was on the right of the way to the great 
lotts was valued at £100. 

Robert Burnet lost a child in 1642. 

Edward Blacksley, a widower, died in 1637. His daughter 
Sarah died in 1638. 

Jerauld Bourne had Jerauld, born August 6th, 1643. 



Part [.] history of roxburv. 93 

Ann Brabrook, an old woman, died May 20, 1648. 

Arthur Cary, which may have been also written Gary, had 

son Samuel born Sept. 22, 1638. He died in 1666. He had 

other children, William and Nathaniel. His wife's name was 
Frances. 

William Chandler came in 1637. He brought with him from 
England his wife Hannah, and four small children, Thomas, 
Hannah, John and William. He was made a freeman in 1640, 
and died, the next year, of consumption, " a godly christian." 

Edmtmd Chamberlain married Mary Turner in 1646. The 
same name occurs in Chelmsford. 

Richard Cfiamberlain owned a house and half an acre next 
Rev. Jno. Eliots. The same name is found at Braintree. 

Samuel Chapin. His wife was Sisly. His name is met with 
at Springfield. 

William Chase came in 1630, and brought with him his son 
William. He removed to Sciluate, and afterwards to Yarmouth. 

Benjamin Child. His name occurs in 1648. He had land in 
town and his name is in the Transcript, but he belonged to 
Muddy River. In 1672, he was one of those there who contri- 
buted for building the church. His wife Mary was admitted to 
the church in 1658. 

William Cheany, Cheney , or Cheny, came in 1635, with his 
wife Martha, and his children, Mary, Martha, John, and Daniel ; 
had a son, John, born Sept. 29, 1639 : Mehitable, born June 1, 
1643 : Joseph was born June 6, 1647. He died in 1666, aged 
63. His property amounted to £886: 01: 04. 

John Carman came in 1631, with Florence, his wife. His son 
John was born in 1633, Caleb in 1639. 

■James Clarke. His children, Elizabeth and Mary, were bap- 
tized June 8, 1645 ; Martha, born April 25, 1648 : Hanna, boru 
Dec. 23, 1649. 



94 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

Robert Cole came in 1640, with the first company. He was 
one of the two that were chosen in 1632, from each town, to con- 
, fer with the assistants, &c. He was made freeman in 1631. He 
removed, probably to Ipswich. 

Philip Corey married Mary Scarboro, Oct. 1, 1647. 

Stockdale Coddington. His wife, "an aniient woman, not of 
this church," died in 1644. 

William Cot/ married Grace Newell, Sept. 14, 1644. 

^ Griffin Crafts was son in law of John Kuggles. His son 
John's birth, July 10, 1630, is the first recorded in the town. — 
Mary, was born Oct. 10, 1632: Abigail, March 18, 1634 : Samuel, 
Dec. 12, 1637 ; Moses, April 28, 1641. He was lieutenant, rep- 
resentative from 1663 to 1667, five years, and often selectman 
and concerned in Town afTairs. His descendants are numerous. 

William Curtis, with his wife Sarah, was here March, 1632-3, 
when he was a freeman. They brought, from England, with 
them, Thomas, died 1652; Mary, John, and Philip. They had 
born here, Hannah; Elizabeth; and Isaac, born 1642. Their old- 
est son William came out the year before them, " He was a 
hopefuUe schoilar, but God took him in 1634." His homestead 
of ten acres was bounded south on Stony River, north on R. Pep- 
per, west on J. Ruggles and John Totman, east on George Brand. 
This has never been alienated from the family. It is now occu- 
pied by Mr. Isaac Curtis, the sixth in lineal descent (the oldest 
of each generation having borne the same name) from William's 
youngest child. It is the old place just beyond the railroad cros- 
sing on the right of Boylston street as you go towards the Plain. 
One of his descendants in 1721 bought a horse and negro and set 
up farming, and was the first man who carried vegetables to town 
in a cart, instead of panniers. 

John Banc married Ann Chandler in 1643, and died 1658, 
leaving his wife and children, Francis, Elizabeth (How) and 
John. 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 95 

William Davis was here in 1642, had son John, born Oct. 1, 
1643 : Samuel, born Feb. 21, 1644. His wife died, 1658. He 
died in 1683, aged 66. John and William died in 1706. 

Tobias Davis married Bridget Kinman in 1649, and died in 
1690. He had a daughter Sarah, born Feb. 10, 1646. His first 
wife, Sarah, died in 1648. 

William Denison was freeman in 1632. He brought over his 
wife, and sons Daniel, aged about 20, Edward and George, 
younger. He was a representative in 1635, to the general court. 
In 1646, he lost his wife. He died in 1653, "an old man." He 
was one of those dismissed in 1637, for their opinions. 

Daniel Denison, his son, was a famous man in those days. — 
He married Patience Dudley, a daughter of Thomas, the Gover- 
nor, at Newtown, and joined the church there, and went to Ips- 
wich. He was a military man, and held almost all ranks, up to 
Major General. He represented the town for many years in the 
court, was one of the assistants for twenty-nine years, and for 
two years a speaker of the house. He died in 1682. 

Edward Denison was disarmed in 1637, made freeman in 1648. 
He married Elizabeth Weld in 1641. Had Elizabeth, born Aug. 
8, 1642. A child named for John died in 1643; John was born 
1644; Edward died 1645; Joseph died 1649; Jeremiah born in 
Dec. 1647, died in May, 1649. He was a representative three 
years, and died in 1668. He lived on Stony River. His estate 
was valued at £1227:05:00. 

George Denison was born in 1621. In 1647 he was a captain 
in Roxbury. He was a freeman in 1648. He is named as " a 
young soldier lately come out of the wars in England." He mar- 
ried Bridget Thomson, 1640. His wife died 1643. He bad a 
daughter Sarah, born March 20, 1641, and Hannah, born May 
20, 1643, and a son John, born July 16, 1646. He removed to 
Stonington. In Philip's war he was a bold and distinguished 
leader. In 1676, with sixty-six volunteers and one hundred 
Christian Indians, he slew seventy-six of the enemy without the 
loss of a man, and took prisoner Quanouchet, the Narragansett 
Indian, whom his Indians beheaded. 



96 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

"OZ(i Mother Denison'" came in 1632, and died in 1645. 

Henry Dingham married Elizabeth Alcock in 1641. 

Mr. Richard Dummer was tlie one who built a mill soon after 
the settlement of the town. He is said ^o have been a very rich, 
and very benevolent man. He removed to Newbury. He was 
here in 1632. 

Rev. Samuel Danforth was born in England in Sept. 1626, 
and came to this country in 1634, with his father Nathaniel. He 
graduated at Harvard College in 1643, was ordained minister of 
the church September 24th, 1650, and died November 19th, 1674, 
at the age of 48. He was teacher from the time when he gradu- 
ated till his settlement. In Mr. Dunster's account is one item of 
£56 l3sA. 8^. paid Samuel Danforth, as Reader and Fellow, for 
six years. He was one of the Fellows, in the College Charter of 
1650, and seems always to have taken deep interest in its wel- 
fare. 

It is said that he " wrote as a scholar," and " was very aflfec- 
tionate in his manner of preaching, and seldom left the pulpit 
without tears." He was learned in the sciences and theology. 
That part of the diary of the Pastors which he wrote indicates the 
interest he took in astronomy, by its frequent descriptions of the 
appearances of various phenomena, and of the situations and 
movements of lieavenly bodies. He published an account of the 
comet of 1664, which probably led Mather to mention that " his 
astronomical composures saw the light of the sun." From 1664 
to 1670, the diary is filled with descriptions of prodigies, earth- 
quakes, comas, &c. His election sermon in 1670 was published. 

In 1657, Mr. Danforth bought of Anthony Stoddard and wife 
the estate which formerly belonged to Capt. Joseph Weld, for 
which he paid £180. 

Mr. Danforth married the daughter of Rev. Mr. Wilson of Bos- 
ton, in 1651. They had twelve children, some of whom were 
distinguished. He was honored with a Latin epitaph, viz : 

Non dubium, quin eo' iverit, quo stellae eunt 
Danforthus, qui stellis semper se associavit. 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 97 

Thomas Dudley came over in 1630, in the Arabella, with Win- 
throp. He did not settle here at first, though he came quite early . 
and settled in the town, and his family have been amongst its 
most prominent citizens. He was born in 1674, at Northampton, 
in England. His father, captain Roger Dudley, was " slaine in 
ye warres," in battle, when Thomas was very young. "But God 
took him up when he was forsaken, and stirred up some special 
friends who took care of him in childhood." 

It is said that some unknown person left him £500, and that a 
Mrs. Pufroy, a widow, noted for her piety and works of charity, 
took an interest in him, and by her care he got some little educa- 
tion, and was taught Latin and grammar. 

He was afterwards page to the Earl of Northumberland, in 
whose family he learned " courtship and whatever belonged to 
civility and good behaviour." 

He then became clerk to Judge Nichols, a connection by his 
mother. In this position he acquired some knowledge of the law. 

When only twenty years old, he had become well known about 
Northampton, for his wit, mettle and spirit, and Queen Elizabeth 
gave him a captain's commission. He raised a company of eighty 
men and went over to France under Henry IV. In 1597, he was 
at the siege of Amiens, but the treaty being concluded before he 
had had any fighting, he returned home. 

At this time there were several eminent Puritans preaching in 
that neighborhood, whom he often heard. Under their influence 
the character of Dudley was fixed, and some new elements were 
developed in it which changed its aspect altogether. His high 
spirits showed themselves in his religious zeal. 

Soon after this he became steward to the Earl of Lincoln, The- 
ophilus, whose affairs he managed for about ten years. The 
Earl's affairs were much involved. There were heavy debts up- 
on the estates, and a great deal of business to be done which re- 
quired not only energy and activity, but labor, prudence and 
judgment. In this office Dudley met with complete success, as 
is shown by the situation of the Earl's affairs when he left him, 
and by the fact that he always retained the esteem and respect of 
the family. He was the executor of Johnson, the Earl's son in 
law. 

13 



98 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

But his desire for a less laborious business, together with his 
religious opinions induced hioi to hire a place at Boston, where 
he could be under Mr. Cotton, with whom he became very inti- 
mate. He did not remain long here, however, before at the pres- 
sing call of the Earl of Lincoln, he again consented to take the 
management of his affairs, and he remained with him till he came 
to New England, 

The first connection of Dudley with the Massachusetts colony 
was when the Boston men promised " to adventure £400 in the 
joint stock of the company, but aftei wards that ten persons at least 
should underwrite £25 each, and to adventure themselves £250, 
and to provide able men to send over to manage the business.'^ 
His name first occurs at the meetings of the general caurt towards 
the last o-f that year. In October he was chosen one of the com- 
mittee for the planters.. In December he was chosen one of the 
undertakers. He was chosen one of the assistants, and when 
aboard the Arabella, at the last meeting held in England by the 
company, it being found that Humphrey who had been chosen 
deputy Governor could net come, Dudley was chosen deputy 
Governor in his place. 

He was then about fifty-six years old, but very strong in body 
as well as mind. He had amassed some property, and, what was 
of more moment, had had his character developed and nerved by 
]ong and varied experience, and by the very life that would seem 
to be the fittest path for one to take who was to enter upon the 
duties that were before him. Till his death he was one of the 
governing minds of the colony. He always held one of the high- 
est offices. 

Dudley brought with him to this country his wife Dorothy and 
his childreti, Samuel, born in 1606, a minister, who married 
Mary Winthrop ; Anne, the wife of Governor Bradstreet ; Pa- 
tience, wife of General Denison ; Mercy, wife of Rev. Jno. Wood- 
ridge ; another who married Major Keayne ; and Dorothy. 

He first went to Newtown, which is now Cambridge, it being 
agreed that the town and settlement should be there. But when 
that arrangement was broken up, he went to Ipswich ; but he re- 
mained there only a short time, and from that place came toRox- 
bury, where he settled, and the family still remains. He built 
upon the west side of Smelt Brook, just across the watering place, 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 99 

at the foot of the hill where the road that runs up to the first 
church, joins the Town Street. His house was nearly opposite 
the apostle Eliot's, and stood where the Universalist meeting house 
now stands. His old well is now there. There was a breast 
work thrown up on the same place in the revolution. 

We may judge of Dudley's character from his course in the 
colony. In April, 1632, he left, one day, before the court was 
over, and sent in a letter of resignation, which the governor and 
assistants refused to receive. In May, they had a meeting to 
consider the matter. Dudley then said that he resigned to keep 
peace, for he felt bound in conscience to speak his mind freely 
and that gave offence, and he had moreover the right to do so 
when he pleased. The governor and some others then took him 
to do for some bargains he had made with some poor men of his 
congregation, to whom he sold seven and half bushels of corn be- 
fore the harvest, to receive ten for it after, which they argued was 
oppressive usury, within the meaning and letter of the statute. 
Dudley held it was lawful, and he and the governor had high 
words, and finally he told the governor plainly, if he had thought 
he had sent for him to his house to give him such usage he would 
not have come there, and that he never knew any man of under- 
standing, of any other opinion, and if he thought otherwise of it, 
it was his weakness. The Governor then charged him with ex- 
travagance, in wainscotling and adorning his house, in the outset 
of their settlement, alleging that they needed all funds and the 
example was bad. Dudley replied he only put on the clapboards 
in form of wainscot, and he did it for warmth, &c. They finally 
held that he could not resign, and he continued in ofRce. In Au- 
gust, again, when complaint was made of the governor for remov- 
ing his house from Watertown, Dudley showed his character. 
He began by asking what authority the governor had more than 
any assistant save to call meetings, and affirmed that he had 
none. But the governor giving a reply that he had, that wound- 
ed Dudley ; he told the governor that if he v^-as so round, he 
would be round too. The governor bade him be round if he 
would. He sprang up in great rage and fury. The governor 
grew hot also, and it was with difficulty they were pacified by 
the interference of mediators. Then Dudley asked by what au- 
thority the governor removed the ordinance and built a fort at 



l.of 0. 



loo HISTORY OF ROXBURY. pART 1.] 

Boston ; by what right he lent powder to Plymouth ; or gave the 
Watertown people leave to erect a weir on the river ; by what 
right he licensed Ratclif and Gray to stay in the colony, and why 
he did not collect fines. The governor answered all these char- 
ges. He also recriminated. Such scenes show what Dudley 
Was. 

In 1634, Dudley was chosen Governor, and was Governor for 
three years, in 1634, 1640, and 1645. He was deputy thirteen 
limes. In 1635, he was chosen one of a commission to frame a 
body of laws for the colony. In 1643, he was appointed commis- 
sioner to frame articles of confederation between the colonies. 
In 1644, he was chosen Major General. 

He lost his wife in 1643. In 1644, April 14, he married Kath- 
arine Hugburne, who had considerable property. 

Dudley was a thrifty man, and, though somewhat advanced in 
years, a very enterprising one. He became one of the largest 
land holders. He was a trading, money getting man. From the 
nature of the securities met with, and the records of the levies he 
made, we may suspect there was some truth in the charges 
against him, and that he really was somewhat hard and prone to 
usury. The court granted to him in 1632, two hundred acres of 
land on the west side of Charles river, over against the new town, 
and in 1634, five hundred acres about the falls, on the east side 
of Charles river. There he .started the mills, and made money 
out of them. In 1636, they granted to him a thousand acres, 
" wherever it may hinder no other plantation." In 1640, his 
part of the four thousand acres granted to Roxbury, being 460 
acres, was made 500, and set out to him on Concord river. 

He died in 1653, July 31, on the Lord's day, at night, in his 
77th year. His property was valued at £1560:10:01. We 
find, in his inventory, bandoliers, corselets, &c. some Latin books, 
some on law, some that indicate a taste for literature, and many 
^^ the doctrines of religion he espoused. 

At the time when the new lights of that day appeared, he was 
most earnest in his opposition to them. He even accused Cotton 
of wavering and called him to account. He would have made a 
good persecutor at any time. He seemed disposed to deny all 
toleration to others, exactly in proportion as he had himself once 
needed it. He did as men of strong passions are apt to do. 



Part I.] history of roxbury. lOl 

Whatever cause he did espouse, had his whole heart. Whatever 
he was against, found him a good hater. 

He was a man of great spirit, energy and force of character. 
His experience had been long, varied and great. His resources 
and powers were fully developed. The station he had held must 
have given him a degree of cultivation, of taste and manners, 
somewhat, to say the least, above most of the colonists, though 
not so great as Winthrop's. He was well versed in the details 
and management, as well as the principles, of business. His 
mind was cultivated, and his judgment mature and practised. 
His knowledge of the law was good, and served him and the new 
colony well. There is reason to suppose he drew the agreement 
for the Free school. The clause binding the estates is in his 
hand. Though not a polished writer, he was, by no means a 
bad one, as his letter to the Countess of Lincoln, which is a treas- 
ure for other merits besides its literary ones, shows. He is said 
to have been no mean poet. It is certain that one of his daugh- 
ters was a highly respectable one. As he had for so many years 
such controlling influence in public affairs, perhaps it is not too 
much to say that the State is a monument to his knowledge, his 
judgment, and his principles. 

Allusion has been made to one prominent trait of his charac- 
ter, his religious zeal. He was a genuine puritan, stern and de- 
voted, asking no quarter for his own opinions, and giving none 
to others; not merely esteeming religious concerns important be- 
fore all others, but so constituted that whenever religious affairs 
presented themselves they absorbed all others. Even in his will, 
he says, " I leave this testimony behind me for the use and ex- 
ample of my posterity, and any others upon whom it may work, 
that I have hated and do hate any false way in religion, not only 
the old idolatry and superstition of popery, which is wearing 
away, but many more late, being much worse, the more horrible 
blasphemies and errors of late sprung up in our native country, 
and secretly received and fostered here more than I wish they 
were." 

An epitaph, which is ascribed to him, may serve to illustrate 
this trait in his character. It will also show with what show of 
justice any body could charge him with being a poet. 



102 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

Dimme eyes, deafe eares, cold stomach shew 

My dissolution is in view. 

Eleven times seven years lived have I, 

And now God calls, I willing dye. 

My shuttle's shut, my race is run, 

My sun is set ; my deed is done ; 

My span is measured ; my tale is told ; 

My flower's faded and grown old ; 

My life is vanished ; shadows fled ; 

My soul's with God; my body dead. 

Fare well, dear wife, children and friends, 

Hate Heresy. Make blessed ends. 

Bear Poverty. Live with good men. 

So shall we meet with joy agen 

Let men of God in courts and churches watch 

O'er such as do a toleration hatch. 

Least ye ill egg bring forth a cockatrice, 

To pay you all with heresy and vice, 

If men be left and otherwise combine 

Mine epitaph's I died no libertine." 

Libertine meant Farnilist. Heresy meant what heresy always 
means to him using the word. He whose blood does not curdle 
at the fierce, cold, self-conceited, bigotry of the man, will at least 
pity the folly, the weakness, the lack of christian charity of the 
time. Yet, there can be no doubt that piety mingled in his con- 
victions. His intolerance was no cloak. His hatred of gospel 
libertinism was sincere and conscientious. 

He was one of unbounded hospitality, entertaining strangers, 
poor English and Indians. He gave liberally. If he drove a 
good bargain, he was a man of exact justice. 

It is said there was on his tomb in the grave yard at the corner 
of Eustis and Washington streets, a leaden plate that had an epi- 
taph upon it, which was torn off and run up into bullets in the 
revolution. The epitaph was this : 

"Here lies Thomas Dudley, a lusty old stud, 
A bargains' a bargain and shall be made good." 

f There must be some doubt whether it is genuine, but it indi- 
cates what was the estimate of his character. Indeed, all who 
speak of him, unite in praising his ability, integrity, and love of 
justice, and more especially his "hatred of disorder, and his 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 103 

antipathy to all heresy and corrupt doctrine." He was styled 
the "antient, honored and trusty soldier of the truth." He was 
upright, and honest, and fearlessly spoke his own opinion in the 
face of all men. 

One of the clergy, Nathaniel Rogers, wrote this anagram in 
his honor. It is worth preserving as showing the fashion of the 
day. 

THOMAS DUDLEY. 
Hold, mast, we dy. 

When swelling gusts of antinomian breath 
Had well nigh wreck'd this little bark to death. 
When Oars gan crack, and anchors, then we cry 
Hold firm brave mast, thy stand, or else we die. 
Our orth'dox mast did hold, we did not die ; 
Our mast now roll'd by th' board (poor bark) we cry. 
Courage, our pilot, lives, who .stills the waves, 
Or midst the surges still his bark he saves. 

He wrote, also, the following Latin Epitaph : 

Heluo librorum, lectorum bibliotheca 

Communis, sacrae, syllabus historiae, 

Ad mensam comes, hinc facundus, rostra disertus, 

Non cumulus verbis, pondus acumen erat, 

Morum acris censor, validus defensor amansque, 

Et sanae, et canae, catholicae fidei. 

Angli-Novi Columen, summum decus, atque senatus, 

Thomas Dudleius conditur hoc tumulo. 

Another of them is worth noticing for a different reason. 

In Eliot's diary'it is said that about the 16th of the 5th month, 
1645, some nameless author sent to Dudley, then governor, this 
anagram. 

THOMAS DUDLEY. 

Ah ! Old, must dye. 

A deaths head on you you would not weare ; 

A dying head you on your shoulders beare. 

You need not one to minde you you must dye. 

You in your name may spell mortalitye, 

Young men may dye, but old men they dye must 

Lord it can't be lonar ) i. j. 

'Twill not be long 5 ^^^^^^ y°^ ^urne to dust. 



104 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

Before you turne to dust ! Ah, Must, Old ! dye ! 
What shall younge doe when old in dust doe lye, 
When old in dust lye ; what shall New England doe ? 
When old in dust lye, it's best dye too. 

Eliot was guilty of doggrel. This is in his vein. And it is 
hard to see why he should have questioned the best reading of a 
line, or noticed such a thing at all, or written it out at length, un- 
less it was his own. 

Besides the children named already, Thomas Dudley had a 
daughter Deborah, born 1645, and Joseph, born Sept. 23, 1647, 
who was afterwards governor of the colony, M. P., &c. 

The descendants of Dudley have been amongst the first men 
in the country. 

Mr. John Eliot, the next person whose name we meet, was the 
counterpart of Thomas Dudley. He was born at Nasing, in 
Essex, England, in November, 1604. 

All that is known of his early life is that he was trained up 
under the care of pious parents, and that, as he says "his first 
years were seasoned with the fear of God, the word and prayer." 

He received a thorough education at Jesus College in the 
Cambridge University, where he took a degree in 1622. He 
there laid the basis of a thorough knowledge of the original lan- 
guages of the Bible and of great theological learning. He was 
particularly fond of philological studies, and became a critical and 
an accurate scholar. 

After leaving the University, he was engaged as teacher in a 
school kept by Mr. Hooker, the eminent divine. There, no 
doubt, he got the ideas which brought him to New England. — 
He always said that "the days he spent with Hooker were a rich 
blessing to his soul." It was "in the quiet sanctity of Hooker's 
household," that his spiritual life was kindled into that expansive 
energy which led him with unalterable purpose to the service of 
God." 

He came over in the Lyon, which arrived November 3d, 1631, 
and immediately joined the church at Boston. There he "exer- 
cised." He continued there till his removal to Roxbury. The 
Boston people desired him to become their Teacher, and labored 
all they could, with him and the church at Eoxbury, to induce 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 105 

him to accept their call, but, regarding himself bound to his 
friends at Roxbury, he could not be prevailed on to decline their 
invitation, and he was dismissed to Roxbury. He was ordained 
Teacher of the first church, November 5th, 1632. Rev. Thomas 
Weld had been invested with the Pastoral c^xe, in July preceding. 
It is generally said that Mr. Weld was settled after and under 
Mr. Eliot, as his colleague. But this is a mistake. In October, 
1632, Eliot was married to the lady to whom he had been es- 
poused before he left England, and who came on the year after 
his arrival. 

Though Eliot was young when he began his work here, and 
had had little, if any, knowledge of the world, he, as well as 
Dudley, had had just that education which best fitted him for the 
life he had to lead. Dudley was advanced in life, was guided by 
judgment, prudence, and his will. Coming to find an asylum 
for his opinions, professing to hate heresy and intolerance, he 
was himself most bigoted and intolerant. Eliot listened to noth- 
ing but the call of conscience. He cared for all men, but himself 
least. He set earnestly about a work, from which he could have 
hoped for neither fame, influence, or any worldly advantage. — 
The best that can be said of Dudley, is, that he was well fitted 
for the political service of that early day. Eliot had before him 
the work of a christian missionary. 

Eliot has been known to the whole world for his public labors, 
and these we will first consider. Great, as must have been the 
labors of his parish in those days, they did not deter him from 
undertaking greater labors than any other man ever accom- 
plished. In the first place he set about learning the Indian lan- 
guage. It is said that he learned this in two years so that he 
preached in it. But this statement seems to be improbable in 
itself. Without book, or teacher, he had to grope his way from 
the unintelligible sounds of the barbarous natives, into the mys- 
teries of a language that it would be no easy thing to master 
with all the helps of learning. He had first to learn to under- 
stand the common talk. Then he had to learn the fit analogies 
to express what he had to teach, for which they had no words, 
but which he must still teach in the language of the natives. — 
And he had also to study the Indian and reduce it to some sys- 
tem, to study its laws scientifically, as well as to learn the words, 
14 



106 HISTORY OF ROXBURT. [pART I. 

by memory, in order to reduce it to a written tongue. It is said 
he took Job Nesutan into his family to learn the language. It is 
much more probable that he had been studying the language foF 
several years. Amongst the deaths recorded in town is one, in 
1646, of "an Indian who had lived ten years with the whites, 
and could read." From our knowledge of Eliot, we cannot help 
believing that Eliot taught, and learned of this person. He was 
no man to stand idle ten years, with the tools for his work 
before him. 

There were many Indians in the vicinity of Roxbury, and very 
likely many within the town, though but rare traces are found of 
them. Eliot first went to preach to them at Nonantum, October 
28th, 1646. He preached there again on the eleventh, and again 
on the twenty-sixth of November, in the same year. The whole 
proceedings of the meetings are still preserved. After prayer and 
a discourse, the Indians put such questions as suggested them- 
selves, such as these, How he knew Jesus Christ ? WJiether the 
Efiglish were ever ignorant of Christ ? Whether Christ could 
tender stand praijers in hidian ? Hoio the world came to be full 
of people, if all 7)ien were drowned in the food ? Why sea %vater 
loas salt and river xvater fresh ? These and many more were put 
at the different meetings. They are curious and interesting as 
they show the operation of men's minds and of the religious sen- 
timent. But they are too voluminous for the limits of this sketch. 
The accounts of the meetings were sent to England and soon af- 
ter published and excited great interest. 

It was a maxim with Eliot that the Indians must be civilized in 
order to their being christianized. Accordingly, he took the 
greatest pains not only to teach them the truths of Christianity, 
but to show to them the benefits of the various arts known to the 
English, and to urge them to industry, good order, and good gov- 
ernment. He looked to their physical comfort. " Cleanliness" 
he considered "next to Godliness." On the organization of a 
town at Natick, a simple code of laws was agreed upon, which in- 
dicate at once the habits of the natives, and the aim and obstacles 
of Eliot. They punished 1st, idleness, 2d, licentiousness, 3d, 
cruelty to women, 4th, vagrancy, 5th, looseness in dress, 6th, fil- 
thiness in person. These were, no doubt, made by Eliot. 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 107 

Before, or about the time when Eliot commenced his labor at 
Nonantum.he had visited the Indians at Dorchester mill, but was 
not well received by them, though they afterwards desired him 
to preach to them. He began with those in his immediate vicin- 
ity. The next year, he went to Concord to preach, when he con- 
verted the chief and gained converts in the tribe. In 1648, he 
went to a tribe on the Merrimac, in 1648 to Yarmouth, after- 
wards to Lancaster and Brookfield. It was his custom for many 
years to preach to the Indians once a fortnight. In 1670 he made 
a journey to the Indians at Martha's Vineyard. In 1673-4 he 
travelled through the country of the Nipmucks, who inhabited the 
southern parts of Western Massachusetts and the North of Con- 
necticut, preaching constantly and teaching them in their wig- 
wams. 

The progress he made was not rapid. It may be judged of 
from the fact that, at the breaking out of Philip's war the whole 
number of christian Indians in the Massachusetts colony was 
about 1150. The work was beset with difficulties. King Philip 
told the Apostle, that he cared no more for his religion than for a 
button on his coat. Ninigret, the Narraganset sachem, when re- 
quested by Mayhew leave to preach to his tribe, told him to make 
the English good first. There was great personal danger and 
hardship. On one occasion, the life of Mr. Eliot was threatened 
if he dared to visit a certain tribe, but he did not hesitate, saying, 
" it is God's work and I fear not," and he went, under the guard 
of his friends and some christian Indians. In one of his letters, 
he says " I have not been dry night nor day, from the third day 
of the week unto the sixth, but so travelled, and at night pull ofT 
my boots, wring my stockings and on with them again, and so 
continue. But God steps in and helps." Gookin, a judge of the 
Indian Court, said he was afraid to go through the streets alone. 
Eliot was not proof against all hardship. In 1657, he was 
" exercised by the sciatica, endmring much anguish and dolour," 
so that he could not preach for twenty weeks. 

Vet he accomplished much. Under him the Indians became 
neat, and industrious. They began to leave their old habits and 
organize into civilized society. Several of their towns became 
quite thriving and respectable. In 1647, on Eliot's petition a 
court was established for the Indian tribe of Nonantum. The 



108 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

warrant of Mr. Justice Waban, *' You, you big constable, quick 
you catch urn Jeremiah OfTscovv, strong you hold urn, safe you 
bring um, afore me Waban, justice peace," and his righteous 
judgment in the case, between the drunken Indian?, " tie um all 
up, and whip um plaintiff, and whip um fendant, and whip um 
witness," have become equally well known, but the general good 
order and thrifty condition of the Natick Indians is proof enough 
of a wise administration of affairs. Even the ridiculous warrant 
is equalled in brevity by one from the English court. " To the 
Marshal, or his deputy. By virtue hereof you are required to 
levy of the land of John Lamb to the value of £50 : 18, (and 2sh. 
for this ex'on,) to satisfy the worshipfuU Thomas Dudley for a 
judgment granted at the Court held at Boston the 6th month." 

In 1647, there was a synod which the Indians attended. A ser- 
mon was preached in the Indian language, and after it they had 
an opportunity to put any questions that suggested themselves. 

In 1650, the Natick Indians urged Eliot to allow them to form 
a town. The Indian Town was organized the sixth of August, 
1651. The regular formation of a church was conducted with 
great caution, from conscientious fears lest the natives should be 
admitted to communion without fit preparation. Repeated exam- 
inations were had, some of them public ; and, in 1660, an Indian 
church was formed. 

In connection with these labors, Eliot undertook and accom- 
plished others, designed to establish his work on a lasting basis. 
He thought of making a translation of the Bible at least as early 
as 1649. In 1651, he had begun it. In 1661, the New Testa- 
ment was published in Indian, and the Old Testament in 1663. 
His labors for the Indians were the dearest objects of his heart. 
The result he hoped for was one that it cheered his manly and 
benevolent soul to think upon. He looked to the direct effect of 
his own labors with the greater solicitude, because, having kw 
to aid him, he could not but feel how much the success of his 
objects depended on his own single arm alone. He had not 
merely to write but to do much of the labor of printing also. In 
a letter written concerning a second edition of the Bible, which 
was published in 16S5, he speaks of having only one person be- 
sides himself able to conduct the work. This was the Indian 
James, who got the sirname Printer from his calling. 



Part 1.] history of roxbury. 109 

In speaking of this work, Edward Everett has said "since the 
" days of the Apostle Paul, a nobler, truer, and warmer spirit than 
"John Eliot never lived ; and taking the state of the country, the 
" narrowness of the means, the rudeness of the age, into consid- 
"eration, the History of the Christian Church does not contain 
"an example of resolute, untiring, successful labor, superior to 
" that of translating the entire Scriptures into the language of the 
'' native tribes of Massachusetts, a labor performed under the con- 
"stant burden of his duties as a minister and a preacher and at a 
" time when his spirits began to flag." 

But it seems to me that vast as was the undertaking, & however 
common patience might have broken under so long and wearisome 
a labor, the literary toil of Eliot was not so great as his mission- 
ary labors. In these, while he had few of the pleasures of study 
or learning, he had quite as much tedious drudgery, and he had 
also to encounter danger, to endure excessive hardships, and what 
perhaps would be most trying of all, to withstand the attacks and 
calumnies of the English, themselves. The feelings of many of 
the English were hostile to his efforts. When the natives were 
committing depredations on their property, burning their villages, 
and murdering families all about, the English could not enter 
with great sympathy into the feelings of Eliot. Besides this, 
Eliot had the pain of seeing his best efforts thwarted, in a hun- 
dred ways, and the labors of twice as many years as it took him 
to translate the Bible, undone in a moment, by some cruel or im- 
prudent act on the part of his own countrymen. Such things as 
these will damp and dishearten one who fears no danger and 
never is tired with the severest labor. 

For f()rty years, day after day, week after week, he continued 
his visits to the Indians, not merely preaching, and holding 
"talks" with them, but going about amongst them every where, 
as the earliest code of laws proves, in the midst of every thing 
loathsome and revolting. His feelings must have been bitter 
when at the end of the war he found that more than half those 
who had been numbered amongst the little body of his converts, 
had renounced the faith, and taken up arms against the English. 
In 1675, several captive Indians were brought to Boston. — 
Eliot interested himself deeply in their behalf. His diary shows 
how warm was his sympathy. But the people looked at it with 



HO HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [pART I. 

jealousy, and nolhing but respect for Eliot could have prevented 
forcible interference. It was a sore trial for him to see men 
ruthlessly rooting out the truths he had planted, and to feel that, 
such was the state of men's minds, no one would again attempt 
10 do what he had effected. 

In 1675, is a note in his diary "soone after the warre wh. ye 
" Indians brake forth, the history wr. off I cannot, I may not re- 
'* late, the prophane Indians proved a sharpe rod to the English, 
" and the English proved a very sharpe rod to the praying 
*' Indians."' 

After the war was over, he records how the soldiers welcomed 
our Indians (the praying Indians) wherever they met them and 
" led thera to the ordinarys and made them drink, and bred them 
" by such a habit to love strong drink, so that it was a terrible 
" snare to us. They learned so to love strong drink that they 
" spent all their wages and pawned all they had for strong 
"drink," "so that drunkenness increased, quarrelling and fiting," 
&c. He then laments over the loss of their Bibles. 

The translation of the Bible could not so severely tax all his 
energies, as these labors. It certainly was attended with none of 
the bitter discouragements he found in them. 

Besides the Bible, Eliot translated many other books into the 
Indian language. Baxter's Call, and the Psalter, were published 
in 1664, the Indian Grammar, in 1666, several editions of Cate- 
chisms and Primers, the "Sound Believer," and some tracts, 
about the same time. 

Besides his Indian books, Eliot wrote and published several 
English ones ; in 1665, the "Communion of the Churches ;" in 
1672, the "Logical Primer;" in 1678, the "Harmony of the 
Gospels." 

"The Christian Commonwealth," was also written by Eliot. — 
This was a rare book and little known here till its recent publica- 
tion by the Historical Society. It probably appeared during the 
latter part of Cromwell's government, or just before th(? restora- 
tion of Charles II, in 1660. In May, (the 22d) 1661, the Gen- 
eral Court deeming sundry expressions therein, "touching kingly 
Government in England, offensive," "ordered that all persons 
whatsoever in this jurisdiction, that have any of the said Bookes 
ifl theire Custody, shall on theire perrills, within fowcrleen dayes 



Part I.] history of roxbury. Ill 

after publication hereof, cancel and deface the same, or deliver 
them unto the next Magistrate, or to the Secretary, whereby all 
divulgement and improvement of the said offensive Booke may 
be prevented," and Eliot's acknowledgement be copied and 
posted in Boston, Charlestown, Cambridge, Salem and Ipswich^ 

He acknowledged the lawfulness of the English government, 
and the error of such expressions as too manifestly scandalized 
the Government by the King, as anli-christian, and that all forms 
of government deduced from Scripture, are of God. 

The Christian Commonwealth was a form of government^ 
which Eliot proposed to have adopted by the English Common- 
wealth. It was based on what he found in the Scriptures, and he 
thought that no one could deny it without derogating from their 
" sufficiency and perfection." It was upon a similar plan that 
Natick was organized. The form proposed was for individuals 
to organize into tens, or tithings, tens into hundreds, and so up- 
wards, with rulers of tens, fifties, hundreds, thousands, &c. The 
several rulers in their jurisdictions were to be judges and cases 
were to be carried from one court to another up to the highest 
council chosen by the whole body. Each ruler was to expound 
the law according to the Scriptures, and each was to superintend 
and direct those below him. The Supreme Council was to have 
supervision of all. It was the highest court of law. It had the 
power of declaring war and making peace, and the power of reg- 
ulating commerce, the arts, and religion. This he termed a Sin- 
gle Platform. But he contemplated the indefinite extension of 
the plan so as to embrace any number, and provided for rulers of 
myriads, ten myriads, millions, &c. He provided also for the 
choice of Princes, in populous Nations where there are other civil 
distinctions of societies, to take care of the good government of 
the superior rulers under them, and be members of the Supreme 
Council, who should be chosen by the people over whom they 
were to rule. For laws the Scriptures were to be the guide, be- 
ing, as he said, " the perfect system to guide all the morall actions 
of man either towards God or man," the rules whereof the Judges 
were to apply to each man, guided " by their wisdom and discre- 
tion, and a pure conscience." Each decided case would become 
a precedent according to the principles of the common law. 



112 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

The work shows that he was, as he said, no Statesman, in the 
comnfion acceptation of the term. It does not manifest any 
knowledge of the science of political government, and its various 
checks and balancing powers. On the other hand it indicates, 
for that day, a liberal mind. It does not, like the early laws of 
the colony, for instance, copy the exact penalties of the Mosaic 
code ; and unless limits are to be fixed, by construction, to his 
plan, where he has placed none, there may be found in this work 
the statement of a principle higher than has ever yet been 
adopted by any government in the world, of the absolute harmo- 
ny of all laws. Divine and human, that no enactments of man 
can be binding which conflict with the laws of God, Govern- 
ments have been based on the idea of the sacrifice of the rights 
of individuals, and men have had hardly time to study the 
theory of securing to each, perfect protection. 

Eliot has been censured for his retractions, as an instance of 
weakness. But, if the whole work be carefully considered, it 
will be seen that he rather acknowledged that he had no desire to 
promote civil dissention, and did not desire that the strongest 
constructions should be given to a few phrases as perhaps appli- 
cable to existing circumstances, but intended a general application 
of his theory, whilst he still insisted on the general proposition of 
the legitimacy of Divine laws for human government. Much of 
the force of this will depend on the sense in which he intended 
to speak of the laborer against Antichrist, whether as against a 
single man, or for all noble works. 

The inquiry which will most interest us, is how these labors of 
Mr. Eliot were viewed and supported by his own people. And, 
though no full account can be given of their labors with him, 
there is evidence enough to show that they approved and aided 
his efforts for the Indians. 

Daniel Gookin, the one who, next to Eliot, was most active in 
this work, lived, for a time at Roxbury. In one of his letters, 
Eliot speaks of asking advice of one of the Elders of his church 
on some matter of importance concerning the Indians. This, no 
doubt, was Elder Heath. In a later letter he speaks of the great 
encouragement of the Ruling Elder. Another letter of that day, 
written by one interested in those matters, mentions Eliot's broth- 
er as a "ri^ht godly and diligent person who useth to accompany" 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 113 

him. This was Philip Eliot. In another letter, Eliot speaks of 
" four of us" going to the Indians. Very likely they were Gock- 
in, Heath, his brother Philip, and himself. In July, 1654, there 
was a public examination of the Indians in Eliot's church at Rox- 
bury. There were several Indians who became members of his 
church. From these circumstances, and the unbounded love and 
respect felt by the Roxbury people for Mr. Eliot as long as he 
lived, there can be no doubt that they did all in their power to en- 
courage his work amongst the Indians. In several instances vis- 
its of the Indians to Roxbury are mentioned. 

Another circumstance is worth noticing. When the people of 
Roxbury came to take up lands, they selected their locations 
amongst the praying Indians in the country then known as the 
country of the Niptnucks, at Manchage, now Oxford, at Chabun- 
akongkoman, or Dudley, Waanexit, Quatesset, and Wabquissit, 
the present town of Woodstock in Connecticut, and other places 
where the Indians had been converted to Christianity. This, cer- 
tainly, is a sure indication of the steady adherence of his fellow 
townsmen, and their belief in the actual benefits of his missionary 
labors. 

The same thing may be inferred from the fact that he never, 
for one moment, held any but the first place in the esteem and 
love of his own parish, those who knew all he did, and the mo- 
tives that governed him. 

Of his labors in his office very little can be told. But for near- 
ly sixty years he remained with the parish, and always was be- 
loved by all. There is not a word that is not in his praise. A 
single anecdote, which was told by some of the ancient inhabi- 
tants of the town, shows what was the character that stamped it- 
self on their memories. 

His charity was so great that his salary was often distributed 
for the relief of his needy neighbors, so soon after the period at 
which he received it, that before another period arrived his own 
family were straitened for the comforts of life. One day the par- 
ish treasurer, on paying the money due, which he put into a 
handkerchief, in order to prevent Mr. Eliot from giving away his 
. money before he got home, tied the ends of the handkerchief in 
as many hard knots as he could. The good man received the 
handkerchief and took leave of the treasurer. He immediately 
15 



114 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

went to the house of a sick and necessitous family. On entering 
he gave them his blessing, and told them God had sent them 
some relief. The sufferers, with tears of gratitude welcomed 
their pious benefactor, who, with moistened eyes began to untie 
the knots in his handkerchief. After many efforts to get at his 
money, and impatient at the perplexity and delay, he gave the 
handkerchief and all the money to the mother of the family, say- 
ing with trembling accents, "Here, my dear, take it; I believe 
the Lord designed all for you." Whenever he is spoken of by 
any of them he is named in terras of more than common endear- 
ment. 

It could not have been otherwise. He worked only for good. 
He was earnest and sincere. The great principle of active benev- 
olence governed him in all his acts, I have alluded to the pain 
with which he saw the white men tempt the poor natives, whom 
he had partly redeemed, back to their evil life. No one ever 
wept more bitterly than he did over the wrongs done to the red 
man. But his sympathies were awake to every thing humane. 
The facts noted in his diary show his character, and they strike 
one the more as they contrast themselves with such as Mr. Dan- 
forlh records side by side with them. Dan forth records the dates 
of earthquakes, ordinations, fasts, shipwrecks, the appearances of 
comets and their positions, the weather, synods, accidents, and 
gossip in general. Eliot thanks God that the £12 : 18 : 09 which 
they raised to buy Edward Stowell out of Turkish captivity made 
up just the sum needed. He speaks of the attempts made to re- 
duce Southold and Southampton, " because they stand for their 
liberty ;" of the Sabbath School; of " the gracious gift of char- 
ity from the friends in Dublin for such as died in the warr;" of 
his visits to men, indians and whites, in prison, and on the scaf- 
fold. Every thing tells of his philanthrophy. 

In his parish he always declined taking wine, quietly remark- 
ing that it was an ancient beverage undoubtedly, but he believed 
water was an older one. He utierly condemned the filthy use of 
tobacco. He preached and prayed against wigs and long hair, 
and censured many fashions of the day as ridiculous. Some of 
his biographers have set down his sentiments on these matters as 
well as on war, temperance, and the treatment of the natives, to 
his " prejudices." But they condemn themselves more than they 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 115 

censure him. He considered what was just, and thought of the 
follies of fashion as ihey indicated and affected character. For 
himself he saved, that he might be liberal. He never ha<l but one 
dish at meal. He wore a leathern girdle. Yet, notwithstanding 
his great private benevolence, with his small salary, he accom- 
plished very costly undertakings. 

When he could not preach, at the close of his life, he said to 
the parish, "I do here give up my salary to the Lord Jesus Christ, 
and now brethren, you may flx that upon any man that God shall 
make a pastor." But the Society declined to receive it, saying 
they deemed his presence necessary, whatever sum was granted 
for his support. 

"Mr. Eliot was peculiarly happy in domestic life. His wife 
*' was an excellent economist, and by her prudent management 
*' enabled [him to be generous to his friends and hospitable to 
*' strangers. With a moderate stipend, he educated four sons at 
« college." 

As a preacher, Eliot was very efTective and popular. His man- 
ner was easy and pleasing, his voice sweet and clear, his style 
plain, and free from the conceit of the day. He always was ear- 
nest and spoke from the fulness of his own feelings. 

In a publication of 1654, Eliot is thus noticed: 
" Mr. Eliot, Pastor of the Church of Christ at Roxbury, ia 
*' New England, much honored for his labors in the Lord. 

Greate is thy worke in Wildernesse, Oh man, 
Young Eliot neere twenty yeares thou hast 

In western worlde with miccle toil thy span 
Spent well — neere out, and now thy grey hayers gracest 

Are by thy Land Lord Christ, who makes use of thee 
To feede his flock, and heathen people teach, 

In theire owne language, God and Christ, to see : 
A Saviour their blind hearts could not reach, 

Poore naked children come to lerne God's mind 
Before thy face with reverent regard. 

Blesse God for thee maj' theese poore heathen blinde, 
That from thy mouth Christ's gospell swete have heard, 

Eliot thy name is through the wild woods spread. 
In Indian mouths frequents' thy fame, for why ? 

In sundry shapes the Devills make them dread : 
And now the Lord makes them their wigwam fly, 



116 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

Rejoice in this, nay rather joy that thou, 
Amongst Christs' soldiers hast thy name sure set, 

Although small gaine on earth accrew to you, 
Yet Christ to crowne will thee to Heaven soone fct. 

Yet the ''gray haired man" had not "spent his span vvell-neere 
out." For nearly forty years after that was written, did he keep 
on in his work with ihe same energy, zeal and activity that he 
had had when a young man. 

There seems to be a fatality about the connection of whites 
with the red men. It was thought that Eliot was founding a 
great work. But it failed and ended with him. The very last 
descendant of the Natick town has gone. His code of laws was 
condemned by his own friends, from the meanest fawning on 
power. His college never graduated so many as it took to plan 
it. His schools soon ceased. His books are rare curiosities. — 
Even the Bible, to which he trusted to bless millions, and to ele- 
vate a race of men, cannot be read by a single man in the whole 
world. The Indians are driven away thousands of miles from 
the spot where he believed they would live as civilized men. — 
Even in his own day he saw his converts melting away under 
various influences ; and now he seems to be esteemed by the 
world as one of its good men : some, with Everett, associate 
greatness with his name. Yet even his biographers speak of 
him as "the good old man," "the pious heart," in the pitying tone, 
oftener than in the true significance of those honorable words, 
and apply to his labors the eternal test of every thing but truth 
and nobleness, cui bono. Thus weighed, as we have seen, his 
labors "amount to" nothing. He left a true life. 

Yet Eliot was great, in the highest sense. To a heart run- 
ning over with Christ-like love, to a spirit which, for untiring 
resolution, the world has never equalled, he added lofty and lib- 
eral views. Could he but furnish to a few about him the ele- 
ments of knowledge, teach them the gospel, open paths for others, 
make a grammar, write the language, found Indian schools and 
colleges, print the Bible so that the natives could read it, teach 
them the benefits of art and industry, organize their society and 
government, he looked forward with the failh of a prophetic soul, 
to results which would put to shame all that most of the world's 
"great" men have done. He was more than a laborious mission- 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 117 

ary, more than such as Penn. His works and plans show a 
mind of the highest order. Results, so called, are a fallacious 
test of merit. The man must be weighed, independent of his 
success. 

How could Eliot be measured, for instance, with Thomas Dud- 
ley. One was a public man, loaded with honors, a rich man, "a 
zealous defender of the faith." The other went quietly to work, 
almost alone, spending all he had, encountering danger and earn- 
ing reproach. In their characters all is contrasted. One was a 
man of the world. The other was spiritual, living out what he 
used to say, "Heaven is here." 

The traits of character, which strike men most, in Eliot, are 
his purity and spirituality, his ardor and resolution, his benevo- 
lence and humility. He was a Christian. He was complete 
and well balanced. About all he said and did, there is that re- 
pose which seems to be characteristic of the works of a great 
soul. In almost his last letter to England, as earnest as ever 
about the Indian work, with which he is identified, he speaks 
with perfect calmness of his death as "drawing home." By con- 
sent of the world, Eliot has been named an Apostle. "His mem- 
ory is precious." 

He lived nearly opposite Thomas Dudley's, on the other side 
of the Brook, just back of the spot where Guild hall stands. 

He died May 20ih, 1690, in his S6ih year, and was buried in 
what was called "the minister's tomb," in the first burial place, a 
tomb which was built by subscription partly, and to which the 
families of the ministers had some right. 

The following is the record in the book of the first Church, in his 
own hand. 
Mr. John Eliot he came to N. E. in the 9th month, 1631 ; he 
left his intended wife in England, to come the next year. He 
adjoyned to the Church at Boston and there e.xercised in the ab- 
sence of Mr. Wilson, the pastor of the Church, who was gone 
back to England for his wife and family. The next summer, Mr. 
Wilson returned, and by ye time the Church at Boston was in- 
tended to call him to office, his friends were come over, and set- 
tled at Kocksbrough, to whom he was first engaged that if he 
were not called before they came, he was to be joyncd to them 



118 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

whereupon the Church at Rocksbrough called hirn to be Teacher 
in the end of the summer, and soon after, he was ordained to the 
ofRce in the Church. Also, his wife come along with the rest of 
his friends the same time, and soon after their coming, they were 
mariied, viz: in the Sth month, 1632. Hannah, his first born 
daughter, was born the 17th day of 7th month, Anno, 1633: 
John, his first-born son, was born 31 of 6tb, 1636: Joseph, born 
20th, lOih, 1638: Samuel, born 22d of 4th, 1641: Aaron, born 
19ih of 12th, 1643 : Benjamin, 29ih of 11th, 1646. 

Philip Eliot, the brother of John, came in 1635, freeman in 
1636. He was a man of influence in the town, being often se- 
lectman. He was feoffee of the school property, commissioner 
for government of the town, deputy, several years a representa- 
tive, and for a long time deacon of the church. He died in 1657, 
the 22d of the Sth month. The church records thus give his 
character. "He was a man of grace and very faithful, lively, 
useful and active for God." In the school records, or history, he 
is not named as teacher, but, from the documents, it appears 
that he was chosen a teacher of the free school. His property 
was appraised in 1658 at £810 : 01 : 10. His will provided that, 
after the death of his widow Elizabeth, Richard Withington of 
Dorchester, John Aldis of Dedhara, and John Smith of Dedham, 
should make division of his property in right of their wives. He 
lived west of Stony River. 

John Evans. 

Jacob Eliot, senior. In 1661, an inventory was taken of his 
property, in which he is spoken of as " formerly deceased." It 
names " Jacob Eliot, jr." " mares and colts at Brantry with Fran- 
cis Eliot," and a " mare at Sudbury." 

Margery Eliot died in 1662, worth £294 : 19 : 08. 

Samuel Finch was made freeman in 1634. His wife was Mar- 
tha. He lived near Hugh Pritchard. 

Mr. Joshua Foote had house and four acres next to Thomas 
Weld's. 

Robert Gomblin,jr. came in 1632, and brought with him John 
Mayo, the son of his former wife. His wife's name was Eliz- 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 119 

abeth. His father settled in Concord. He settled on Stony Riv- 
er, just North of Thomas Bell's. The children born to him here 
were Elizabeth, born June 24, 1634; Joseph, born March 14, 
1636; Benjamin, born 1639; Mary, born March 6, 1641. He 
was made freeman in 1634, and was a person of some weight in 
town concerns. Gamblin's End, no doubt, took its name from 
him. One of his daughters married Isaac Chenery. 

Mary Gamlin, a maid servant, daughter of Robert Gamlin, sen~ 
ior, came in 1632, and died in 1633. 

Arthur Gary, or Gery, (see Gary,) had a house with five acres 
next to William Heaths. He died in 1666. 

William Gary had a homestead of five acres, west of Stony 
River. 

Thomas Garner, or Gardner, married Lucy Smith, 1641, had 
Andrew, born March 5, 1641 ; Thomas, born 1645 ; Abigail, 
born Feb. 15, 1645, died 1649 : Mary, born April 9, 1647; Pe- 
ter, baptized Sept. 8, 1650. He died July 15, 16S9. 

" Our aged Sister''' Gardner, died 1658. 

Peter Gardner, or Garner, married Rebecca Groote in 1646; 
had son Peter, June 24, 1647 ; Rebecca, baptized Nov. 9, 1647. 

Samuel Garner and Lieut. Samuel Garner, are named in the 
records as slain by the Indians in 1676. Samuel was son of Pe- 
ter. 

Mr. John Gore was freeman in 1637. His son John was born 
in England, May 23, 1634. Obadiah was born here June 27 
1636, and died, 1646; Abigail, born Aug. 5, 1641, died, 1642 
Abigail, baptised May 5, 1643 ; Hannah, born May 5, 1645 
Obadiah, baptised, 1649. His homestead of four acres, was west 
of Stony River, and bounded on the way leading to the landing 
place and tide mill. He died in 1657. The children of his who 
were then living, were John, Mary, Samuel, Abigail and Hannah. 
John was clerk of the writs in 1632. Governor Gore was of this 
family. 



1/ 



120 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [pART I. 

John Gorton, whose wife was named Mary, died, 1636, He 
had six acres called the "Wolf's Trapp," east of the Dorchester 
road, bounded on William Parke's and William Cheney's. His 
daughter Mary died Aug., 1636. He had Mary, born 1641; 
Sarah, baptized Jan. 4, 1643 ; Mary, baptized July 6, 1646. 

Daniel Googan had daughter Elizabeth in 1644. 

V John Graves came in 1633, freeman, 1637. His wife was Ju- 
dith Alward. They were married in 1635. They had Hannah, 
born 1636. They brought five children. He died in 1644, 
leaving Jonathan, John, Mary, and Samuel. The will of John 
Graves, junior, is recorded in 1646, 

» Old Mrs. Graves died in 1644, aged 80 years. 

Richard Goade married Phebe Hews in 1639. Children, John 
and Hannah, baptized 1643. Hannah, born 1641 ; Mary, born 
June 23, 1644; Phebe, born March 12, 1646; Joseph, born Sep. 
21, 1647, died, 1648. He had a homestead of three acres on 
the Dorchester road. 

Thomas Griggs married Mary Green in 1640. His former 
wife died in 1639, He died in 1646. 

Samuel Hagborne, or Hugburne, or Haeburne, had children, 
Elizabeth, born April 24, 1635; Samuel, born 1637; John, born 
1640 ; Hannah, born Jan. 5, 1642. He lived East of the Street 
now Roxbury Street. He died in 1642, the 24th of the 11th 
month. He was a rich man. In his will he provided that ten 
shillings per annum should be paid to the free schoole of the 
towne, when they should set one up, out of the neck, then and 
long afterwards called Hagburne's or Haeburne's neck, and ten 
shillings out of the house and home lot. His "widow" is named 
in the Church records. 

John Hale. [Name alone.] 

Margery Hamviond, a maid servant, came in 1632, and was 
married to John Ruggles. 

Hanchet, the same name probably as Hansett, married Eliza- 
beth Perrv in 1644. Had son, Thomas, in Oct., 1645; Samuel 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 121 

died, 1646 ; Hannah, one born in 1647 — another born Oct. 14, 
1649, died, 1649. 

Robert Harris, married Elizabeth Boffer in 1642, had child 
Elizabeth, born 1644, and Timothy, baptized July 9, 1650. 

William Heath came in 1632, and brought five children, Mary, 
Isaac, Martha, Peleg, Hannah. He was freeman in 1632-3, and 
representative to the first general court, and for six years. He 
died in 1652, an " able, godly and faithful brother." His first 
wife (and daughter Mary) were named Speare. 

Isaac Heath was made freeman in 1636, was representative in 
1637-8. An infant child of his died in 1641. His house was 
west of the road that led from Boston to the meeting house. He 
was ruling elder, and brother to William. He was one of the 
chief men in town. 

. Isaac Heath, (probably a son) was made freeman in 1652, mar- 
ried Mary Davis in 1650, had son, Isaac, born 1655. He lived 
on Stony Eiver, and had four acres there, bounded West on high- 
way on the hill. 

Israel Heath was a representative in 1636-7. 

Peleg Heath was freeman in 1652. 

William Healey was here in 1647. He had a house and mill 
lot of three acres, bounded South on the highway, North on Hugh 
Prichard, (who lived east of the road to Brookline) West on the 
way to the landing place. Elizabeth was born Nov. 9, 1647 ; 
Samuel died 1646. 

Ralph Hemi7igway, or Hemenway, " a man servant," married 
Elizabeth Hews in 1634, and was made freeman the same year. 
His daughter Mary died April 4, 1634. He had children, Mary, 
born May 1, 1635 ; Samuel, born June, 1636 ; Ruth, born Sept. 
21, 1638 ; John, born 1641 ; Joshua, born 1643 : Elizabeth, born 
May 31, 16.35; Mary, born April 7, 1647. He lived at the East 
end of the town. His death is recorded in 1699, He seems to 
have been active in town affairs, 
16 



122 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

Joshua Heioes, or Hues, came in 1633, married Mary Goldstone 
in 1634. He had Joshua, born and died in 1639, and it is said 
another Joshua in 1639 ; Mary, born Dec. 29, 1641 ; Joshua, 
born 1644. 

William Hills, a man servant, came in 1632, freeman in 1634, 
niarried Phillis, daughter of Richard Lyman. They removed to 
Hartford, Conn. 

Thomas Hills, a man servant, came in 1633. 

George Holmes had a son Nathaniel, born 1639, who was af- 
terwards a representative in 1689, and a daughter Deborah, born 
and died in 1641 ; and an infant, in 1642 ; another Deborah died 
1646. His homestead of five acres was North of the way to Dor- 
chester Brook, next to Thomas Pigg's. 

Abram How had children, Isaac, born June 24, 1639 ; Israel, 
born 1644; Deborah, born Sept. 4, 1641. His wife died 1645. 
He died in 1683. 

Isaac Johnson was made freeman in 1635. In 1636 he mar- 
ried Elizabeth Porter. He had children, Elizabeth, baptized Dec. 
25, 1637 ; John, born Nov. 3, 1639 ; Joseph, born and died 1645 ; 
Mary, born April 24, 1642 ; Nathaniel, born 1647 ; Isaac, born 
1648, He was a representative, and captain of the artillery com- 
pany. Captain Johnson and five other captains were killed by 
the Indians at the taking of fort Narragansett, Dec. 19, 1675. 

Joh7i Johnson, freeman in 1631, He was generally in public 
life. He represented this town in the first general court, and for 
fourteen years afterwards. He was a military man also, and was 
" appoynted surveyor generall of all ye armyes." The public 
stores were placed in his house, and it was when that was burnt 
and blown up that the town records were destroyed. He died 
Sept. 29, 1659, leaving £660. He kept tavern. Many public 
meetings were held at Brother Johnson's. 

Edward Johnson owned a house and two acres or more joining 
the clay pits. 

Humphrey Johnson married Ellen Cheney in 1642. They had 
a child, Mehitable, 1644 ; Martha, Sept. 12, 1647. 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 123 

Lewis Jo?ies had daughter, Phebe, born 1645, she died 1650. 

Thomas Lamb came in 1630, and brought his wife Elizabeth, 
and two children, Thomas and John. He had also Samuel, born 
1630, and baptized at Dorchester ; Benjamin, born 1639 ; Caleb, 
born 1641 ; Joshua, born 1642. He lost his wife in 1639, and 
married Dorothy Harbittle in 1640. His sons went to Spring- 
field and Watertown. He died in 1646, and left £112 : OS : 01. 
He had a homestead of eighteen acres, betwixt the meetinghouse 
and Stony River, adjoining the lots of Isaac Heath and John 
Johnson. 

John Leavens, or Levinz, came in 1632, freeman in 1634. In 
1639 he married Rachel Wright. They had John, born 1640 ; 
James, born 1642 ; Peter and Andrew, born 1644 ; Peter, one of 
the twins, died 1644 ; Rachel, born Aug. 1646. He lived on the 
Dorchester road, where he had a lot of seven acres and house. 
He died in 1647, 15th, 9th, " an ancient godly christian." His 
first wife Elizabeth died Oct. 10, 1638. 

William Leicis came over in 1630, and was a proprietor of 
Cambridge and admitted freeman in 1632, but returned to En- 
gland and was married there. He had two sons born in England, 
John, born Nov. 1, 1635 ; Christopher, born 1636. Lydia was 
born here 1640 ; Josiah, born 1641. He lived next to William 
Heath's. 

William Lyon came in 1635, married Sarah Ruggles in 1646. 
John was born 1647, April 10 ; Thomas, baptized Aug. 8, 1648 ; 
Samuel, June 10, 1650. 

Richard Lyman, freeman in 1633, came in 1631, and brought 
Phillis, Richard, Sarah and John. " He was an ancient chris- 
tian, but weak. He went to Conecticot, and met great affliction 
for going near winter," lost his cattle, &c. He died in 1640. 

John Mathev) had children, Gertham, born 1641 ; Elizabeth, 
born 1643. He is said to have removed to Springfield, and died 
in 1684. " Being convict of notorious drunkenness and not hold- 
ing remorse, he was excommunicated." 

Robert Mason, his wife was buried in 1637. 



124 HISTORY OF ROXBURV. [pARt 1. 

John Mayo, son of Kobert Gamblin's wife by a former husband, 
can:ie in 1632, "but a child." He married Hannah Graves. His 
sister was " a very gracious maiden." 

John Mayes had a house and lot between Thomas Bells and 
Robert Gambiins, on Stony River. 

Philip Meadows married Elizabeth Ingulden in 1641. They 
had a child, Hannah, born 1642. 

Thomas Meakings married Elizabeth Talston. She died in 
1650. The same year, Sister Meakings, the old woman, mother 
to brother Meakings, died. Thomas had daughter Hannah, born 
March 13, 1647. 

Mr. John Miller, a preacher, came to this country in 1637. 
His daughter Mehitable was born here in 1638, and Susannah in 
1648. He went afterwards to Rowley, where he was minister, 
and held various offices. He died in 1663, at Groton. 

Isaac Morell was born in 1588, and came out in 1632 ; he was 
freeman in 1632-3. He had the following children here, viz : 
Isaac, born Nov. 27, 1632, died Jan. 31, 1633; Hannah, born 
Sept. 12, 1636 ; Abram, born 1640. Elizabeth his daughter died 
in May, 1638. Sarah, a daughter of his, married Davis, and 
died in 1648. He had two houses and two forges. In 1720, 
one of these belonged to Samuel Stevens, his great grand son. 
He died in 1661. His will names his children Catharine (Smith,) 
and the wife of Daniel Bruer. 

James Morgaine married Margery Hill in 1640. His son John 
was baptized Sept. 30, 1645. Hannah, born July 18, 1642. In 
1651 he was here. 

Abraham Newell came in 1634, and brought with him Ruth, 
Grace, Abraham, John, Isaac and Jacob. One of his daughters 
married William Toy. He died in 1672, at the age of ninety- 
one. 

Robert Onio7i. A child of his died in 1642. His wife, Mary, 
died 4th, 2d mo., 1643. 

Edmund Parker married Elizabeth How in 1647. 



Part 1.] history of roxburvt. 125 

Nicholas Parker, with Ann, his wife, came in 1633 and brought 
Mary and Nicholas : Joanna was born in 1635. They removed 
to Boston. 

William Parker had rhildren, Theodore, born July 26th, 1637 ; 
Hannah, born August 28, 1639, died 1646 ; John, born June 30, 
1645. 

Beacon William Parke came in 1630 ; "was one of the first 
in the Church at Rocksbrough." He afterwards married Martha 
Holgrave, of Salem. Martha was born May 2, 1641 ; Sarah, 
baptized Nov. 19, 1643 ; John, a son of his, died in 1646, not a 
year old ; Deborah died in 1649, the 14th of 6ih month. He 
lived on the North side of the road to Dorchester. He was rep- 
resentative of the town for thirty-three years, often selectman, 
and a man of influence. "He was a man of pregnant under- 
standing and useful in his place." He died in 1685. 

Giles Pason, or Payson, came in 1635, married Elizabeth 
Dowell in 1637. They had children— Elizabeth, born in 1639, 
and died, 1639 ; Samuel, born Nov. 7, 1641 ; Elizabeth, born 
Feb. 14, 1644 ; Sarah, born July 16, 1648. He was a man who 
held town offices often. He died in 1688. His homestead of 
five acres was on the Dorchester road. He was deacon. 

Edward Payson, a man servant, married Ann Parke in 1640. 
She died in 1641, and, the next year, he married Mary Eliot. — 
His children were Marah, born Sept. 22, 1641 ; John, born June 
11, 1643; Jonathan, born Dec. 19, 1644; Ann, born April 26, 
1646 ; Joanna, born 1649. He had afterwards a son Edward, a 
clergyman of Rowley, whose descendants are numerous. 

Joseph Patching married Elizabeth Ingulden in 1642. 

Christopher Peake, freeman in 1635, married Dorcas French 
in 1636. They had Jonathan, born Oct. 17, 1637 , Dorcas, born 
1639 ; Hannah, born Jan. 25, 1642 ; Joseph, born Feb. 12, 1644. 
He died in 1666. An infant died 1647. 

Richard Peacock had Samuel in 1639 ; Caleb, March 1, 1641. 
He died at Boston in 1691. 

William Perki?is lost a son William in 1639. Another of the 
same name was born in 1641. 



126 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. PaRT 1.] 

John Perry was freeraaQ in 1633. His son John was born in 
1639. He died in 1642. His heirs occupied his place of two 
acres on Heath's Lane, on the South side, and East of the high- 
way leading from it. Besides John, he had Elizabeth, born Jan. 
25ih, 1647 ; Samuel, born March 1, 1640. 

Robert Pepper married Elizabeth Johnson, March 14, 1642. 
She died in 1643. He was made freeman in 1643, and was at 
Springfield as early as 1645. His children were Elizabeth, born 
May 25, 1645; John, born April 8, 1647; Joseph, born March 
18th, 1649. His homestead of two acres was West of Stony 
River. He died in 1682. In 1675, Robert Pepper was captured 
by the Indians on his way to Northfieki. 

John Pettit. [Only his name occurs.] 

Thomas Pigge was here in 1634, and made freeman that year. 
His wife was named Martha. They had a daughter Martha in 
1642. He died at Dedham in 1644. His homestead of three 
acres was on Dorchester Brook, between land of George Holmes 
and Ralph Hemingway. His children named in his will, are 
Thomas, John, Henry, Saray, Mathew, Mary. 

Christopher Pickett married Elizabeth Stowe in 1647. 

John Pierpont was son of John, who came from England, and 
settled in Ipswich. He had five children, John, who died with- 
out issue ; James, called in an old agreement, "a student in ye 
liberall arts," who was a preacher, and settled in New Haven ; 
Joseph, who had no children ; Ebenezer ; Benjamin, who died 
without children ; and Experience. A daughter Thankful was 
born Nov. 26, 1649, and died Dec. 16, 1649. John was grantee 
of the will in 1655, and died in 1682, at the age of 64. He prob- 
ably came to Roxbury about the year 1648, when he bought John 
Stowe's place on the hill. "* 

Edioard Porter came in 1636, and brought with him John, 
about three years old, and William, about one year. His daugh- 
ter Elizabeth was born Dec. 25, 1637 ; Hannah, born October 18, 
1639; Mary, born 1642 ; Joseph, born 1644; Deborah, born 
April 26, 1646. Had homestead of thirty acres. 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 127 

William Potter married Judith Graves in 1646. 

John Polly died in 1690. His homestead of eighten acres was 
on the way to Beare Marsh. He had twins, Mary, and Sarah, 
born June 2, 1650. 

Valentine Prentice "came to this land in the year 1631, and 
joined the church in 1632. He brought but one child, his son 
John, and buried another at sea. He lived a godly life, and went 
through much affliction by bodily infirmity, and died, leaving a 
good cup of gentleness behind him." His wife Alice, after his 
death, married John Watson. 

William Pynchon, commonly called the founder of Roxbury, 
came in 1630, and was one of the first foundation of the church. 
He brought with him his wife, who died soon after they came, 
and his children Ann, Mary, John, and Margaret. After some 
years he married Mrs. Frances Saraford of Dorchester, a grave 
matron of the church. When so many went to plant Conecticot, 
he also went with others, and settled at a place called Agawam. 
Mr. Pinchin, as he is called in the account, went to the " Conec- 
tico" to better his estate by trading with the Indians, and they 
engaged particularly in the beaver trade, till the " merchants en- 
creased so many that it became little worth, by reason of their 
out buying one another, which caused them to live on husband- 
ry." He was dismissed to the W^insor church, till they should 
form a church themselves. This was in 1636. 

" Afterwards he wrote a dialogue concerning justification which 
was printed anno 1650, stiled the meretorious price, a book full 
of errors and weaknesse and some Heresy, which the general 
court of Massachusetts condemned to be burnt, and appointed Mr. 
Norton, the teacher at Ipswich, to refute the errors contained 
therein." It is said by a clergyman of this day who seems to 
endorse the judgment of the court, that " the grand error of this 
book consisted in regarding the sufferings of Christ as merely 
' trials of his obedience,' and of course it was the first heretical 
work on the Atonement that was written in this country." The 
great and general court, to show they had not forgotten the les- 
sons taught them in England, and as if they were a body cleri- 
cal, drew up and passed a very long and virulent Protest, "to sat- 



128 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [pART 1. 

isfy all men that the court did utterly decline and detest it as 
erroneous and dangerous." They ordered the book to be burned 
by the executioner in the market place immediately after Lecture, 
(the time when they used to hang men,) summoned Pynchon to 
appear, and promised to " proceed with" him if he did not retract 
and give full satisfaction by another book to be printed here and 
in England. He did make some explanation or retraction in 
May, 1651 and he appeared before the court again in the fall of 
that year. But the court suspended its sentence, and Pynchon, 
probably fearing what might come from them, returned to En- 
gland. He well knevv what it was to encounter heresy-haters of 
the school of Dudley. The colony had furnished him some les- 
sons. He fled for safety from their persecution to the place 
whence persecution had driven them. 

He died in England, at Wraisbury, in October, 1662, aged 72 
or 74. 

Pynchon was highly esteemed at the time the colony came 
out. He was chosen assistant in 1628. He was one of the most 
influential men in settling the colony. He was at one time its 
Treasurer, and was esteemed for his piety, learning, integrity and 
ability. 

His daughter Anna married Henry Smith, son to Mrs. Samford 
by a former husband, "a wise and godly young man," who went 
to Agawam. Margaret married captain William Davis. Mary 
married Mr. Edward Holyoke, son of Mr. Holyoke of Lynn, "Mr. 
Pynchon's antient friend." 

I can find no trace of the place of Mr. Pynchon's residence. 

Thomas Rawlhigs came with the first company in 1630. He 
brought his wife Mary, and his children, Thomas, Mary, Joan, 
Nathaniel and John. He removed to Scituate. 

John Remington, had lot on the Brookline road. 

Edtvard Riggs, freeman in 1634, married Elizabeth Rooke in 
1635 ; she was buried October, 1635. Lydia was buried in Au- 
gust, 1633 ; Elizabeth, buried May, 1634, and John in October, 
1634. The death of Elizabeth, wife of Edward Riggs, is record- 
ed in 1669. 

Thomas Roane married Hannah Rowe, April 15, 1644. 

v' 



Part 1.] history of roxbury. 129 

JoJui Roberts came in 1636 and brought his wife Elizabeth, his 
aged mother and his children, Thomas, Edward, Eliza, Margery, 
Jane, Alice, Lidia, Ruth and Debora. "He was one of the first 
fruits of Wales." He died in 1650, "Old mother Roberts," the 
Welchworaan, died in 1646, aged one hundred and three. 

John Buggies, or Ruggells, a shoe-maker, aged 44, and his 
wife Barbara, aged 30, came in the Hopewell, in 1635, in the 
month of April. "He joined the Church soon after his coming. 
He was a lively Christian, known to many of the Church in Old 
England, when they met socially together." He was made free- 
man in 1637. He brought his son with him. In the list of pas- 
sengers, there are named John Ruggles, aged 2, and John Rug- 
gles, aged 10. One of them was probably the son of Thomas. 
John lived beyond Stony River, on the Brookline road. His 
wife died 11th mo., 1636. He died 6th, 8ih mo., 1664. He left 
three sons, John, Thomas and Samuel. His estate was £343. 

Thomas Ruggles, an elder brothei of John, came in 1637, with 
Mary, his wife. He was made freeman in 1639. "They were 
both children of a godly father. He was as well known as his 
brother." He brought over with him his children, Sarah and 
Samuel. His first born child died in England. His second, 
named John, was brought out as a servant to Philip Eliot. — 
"Thomas had a great sicknesse the first year, but God recovered 
him." He died in 1644, "a Godly brother." 

John Ricggles, " the son of Thomas," married Abigail Crafts 
in 1650, January 24, died Sept. 15, 1658, He had sons John, 
Thomas and Samuel. 

Samuel Ruggles, another son of Thomas, and brother of the 
preceding, had two or three acres on Pond hill. He married 
Hannah Fowles in 1657. He was a representative of the town. 
His wife Hannah and two children died in 1669. 

John Ruggles, had a son John ; his wife was Mary ; he was 
brother in law to Edward Bridges. One John Ruggles was 
freeman in 1632, 

John Scarboro was freeman in 1640. An infant of his named 
John, died in 1642, Hannah, born Dec. 3, 1643. He had also 
17 



130 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

Samuel, born Jan. Jan. 20, 1645. He was slain the 4lh of the 
9th month, 1646, "charging a great gunnee." 

Robert Seaver, freeman in 1637, married Elizabeth Allard in 
1634. He had children, Shubael, born Jan. 31, 1639 ; Caleb, 
born 1641; Joshua, born 1641 ; and Nathaniel, baptized Jan. 8, 
1645. His wife died in 1656. He died in 1682. His home- 
stead was on the River. 

Edmund Sheffield married Mary Woody in 1644. John was 
born in 1644. 

John Sinith married Catharine Morrell in 1647. 

Abraham Smith. ■ 

Francis Smith. Andrew, his son, died in 1639. He had a 
house and three and an half acres towards Dorchester. 

Robert Starkweather. Elizabeth was baptized in 1643 ; Lydia, 
born June 23, 1644. 

Martin Stebbins married Jane Green in 1639. His daughter 
Hannah was born in 1640; Mary, born Feb. 1, 1642; Nathaniel, 
born March 22, 1644. 

John Stebbins married Ann Munke in 1644. "She was so vio- 
lent of passion, that she ofTered violence to her husband, which 
being of such infamy she was cast out of church." 

John Stoz^e brought his wife Elizabeth and six children, Thom- 
as, Elizabeth, John, Nathaniel, Samuel, Thankful. He was 
made freeman in 1634, and was a representative in 1639. His 
wife died in 1638. His son Samuel graduated at Harvard in 
1645. He died in 1643, " an old Kentish man." 

John Stonehard, (or Stonnard) died in 1649. He was here in 
1645, when he made a mortgage of his house and lands, which 
was discharged, in the margin of the record, in 1646. 

Thomas Stoioe married Mary Gragg in 1639. In 164S he had 
removed to Concord. He owned two houses and sold them to 
John Pierpont for £110. 

Hugh Thomas had a place on the road leading to Brookline. 



Part 1.] history of roxbury. 131 

Thomas Thome. His children, Desire and Truth, were bap- 
tized March 22, 1644. 

Philip Tory married Mary Scarboro in 1647. Joseph was 
born July 2, 1649. 

John Totman. His son Jabesh was born Nov. 19, 1641. His 
house was on the highway leading to the pond, beyond William 
Curtis'. 

William Toy married Grace Newell in 1644. 

John Trumble, freeman in 1640, probably went to Rowley. 

John Turner had a daughter Elizabeth in 1647. Goodwife 
Turner died 8lh 7ih mo. 1647. 

William Vassaile was a gentleman of good circumstances in 
' England, and one of the assistants. He came out first in the 
Lion, in 1630, but returned to England and came back — 
and settled in Scituate, where he owned an estate known as 
Belle Neck. He- again returned to England, but came back in 
1635, in the Blessing, to this country, and from thence he went 
to Barbadoes, where he died. He brought with him in 1635, his 
wife Anna, and Judith, Francis, John, Margaret and Mary. — 
Though a member of the Church, he is said to have been op- 
posed to ihe ways of our Churches, and "a busy and factious 
spirit." Just before Vassaile went to England in 1646, Rev. Mr. 
Cotton preached at the Thursday Lecture in Boston, and said if 
any person should carry any writings or complaints against the 
people of God, to England, it would be as Jonas in the ship, and 
advised shipmasters, in case any storms should arise, to search 
and see if they had not such in some trunk, or somewhere, and 
if they found any to cast it overboard. A storm did arise, and 
an old woman applied to Vassaile to see if he had any Jonas, 
and he told her he had only a petition of people to Parliament 
that they might enjoy their liberties as English subjects. She 
insisted on finding the Jonas, and was at last shown a copy of a 
petition presented to Court at Boston, and threw it overboard. 
But it is said the storm did not abate as was reported. They 
had storms after, and the genuine petition was not thrown over, 
but a mere copy. 



132 HISTORY OF ROXBURT. [PaRT I. 

Samuel Wakeman came in 1631. He was one of the first 
foundation of the church. His only child died at sea on the voy- 
age hither. 

Thomas Waterman lost his wife Ann in 1641. He died in 1676. 

Dorcas Walker died in 1640. 

John Watson, married Alice Prentis, widow of Valentine 
Prentiss, in 1634. They had children, John, born January, 
1634: Joshua, born Aug. 1637, died 1639; Dorcas, born 1639; 
Caleb, born 1641 ; Mary, born May 2, 1643. Fanner supposes 
he may have removed to Cambridge, but it was more probably his 
son who went there. He died in Roxbury in 1693. 

Mr. Thomas Welde, or Weld, the first pastor of the first church, 
received the degree A. B. at Trinity College in Cambridge Uni- 
versity in 1613, and A. M. in 161S. He arrived in this country 
June 5lh, 1632, in the William and Frances. He had been a 
minister at Sterling, Essex, England. He was chosen pastor of 
the first church. After many importunings and days of humilia- 
tion by those of Boston and Roxbury, to seek the Lord for Mr. 
Weld's disposing, the advice of the Plymouth people being 
taken, he resolved to set down at Roxbury, and entered on his 
duties in July, 1632. He is sometimes named as colleague to 
Mr. Eliot, and settled afterwards. But he was first settled. In 
the list of ministers Master Weld is Pastor, Master Eliot, Teach- 
er. The duties of Pastor were, " to exhort and to rule. The 
teachers were to instruct in knowledge and also to rule." "Many 
were esteemed excellent teachers whom they would not invest 
with the pastoral care." 

No account of the first pastor is given in the church records. 
Mr. Weld, however, took a conspicuous part in the affairs of the 
day. It is said that he was amongst the most active and bitter 
in the cruel persecution of Anne Hutchinson. In 1637, she was 
commitied to his custody. He was one of the most influential 
men at that period, and was, of course, looked to for his position 
and learning. No doubt his ovvn honest opinions and principles 
led him to take an active part in the religious controversies. It 
was a time when men made a boast of their ovvn bigotry and in- 
tolerance. But it is hard to conceive how men of his stamp 



Part I.] history of roxbury. 133 

should so soon have forgotten why they came to this country, or 
how they could ever have been guilty of offering violence to oth- 
ers for difference of opinion, unless there be in human nature a 
proneness to retaliation. But the censures that belong to the 
time must not be visited upon the man, except in so far as he, be- 
ing above others, ought the more to have been above their errors 
and follies. The Massachusetts colony has on its early history 
a stain, which, more than any other, all would erase. But there 
does not appear to have been any thing else that should be 
deemed a blot on the character of Mr. Weld. 

The church prospered under the united labor of Mr. Weld and 
Eliot. 

In 1640-1, the colony thought advisable to have agents in En- 
gland, and they chose three clergymen to go, Hugh Peters, Mr. 
Weld, and Mr. Hi'bbins, of Boston. " The governor moved the 
church for him, and, after some lime of consideration, they freely 
yielded." He went by way of Newfoundland, where he preached 
to the seamen on the Island, and got a passage from that Island 
to England in a fishing vessel. 

In 1646, Weld was dismissed from his agency, but he did not 
return to New England. He was afterwards settled as minister 
at Gateshead. He went to Ireland with Lord Forbes, but return- 
ed again to England. He is named amongst the ministers eject- 
ed in 1662. The time of his death is uncertain. 

Mr. Weld published, in 1664, " a short story of the Eise, Reign 
and Ruin of the Antinomians, Familists and Libertines, that in- 
fected the churches of New England." He was the author of 
some other tracts. He aided Eliot and Mather in the New En- 
gland version of the Psalms. 

Whilst in Roxbury, Mr. Weld lived East of the Town street. 
In Eliot's letters to England we find him soliciting aid to enable 
him to purchase Weld's library, from which it may be inferred 
that he was well supplied with literary tools. 

Mr. Weld's children were John, who was a minister in En- 
gland ; Edmund, who graduated at Harvard in 1650; Thomas, 
who married Dorothy Whiting in 1650, and was made freeman 
in 1654, chosen clerk of the writs in 1666, and was, several 
years, a representative, and a man of influence in town. Mr. 
Weld may have had other children. 



134 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. PaRT I.] 

The children of his son Thomas, through whom the family 
here traces its descent, were Samuel, who died in 1653; Thomas, 
born 1653 ; Samuel, born 1655 ; John, born 1657, died 1686 ; 
Edmund, born 1659; Daniel; Dorothy; Joseph; and Margaret, 
Thomas owned the Training Field. 

Joseph Weld, was made freeman in 1636. He was brother to 
the first minister. His son Edmund was born July 14lh, 1636. 
His wife Elizabeth died in 16.38. In 1639, he married Barbary 
Clap. They had children, Sarah, baptized Dec. 21, 1640 ; Dan- 
iel, born Sept. IS, 1642, and graduated at Harvard College, 1661, 
studied divinity, and died at Salem; Joseph, baptized and died 
in 1645; Marah, born 1645: Thomas died Sept. 9, 1649. He 
had other children. 

Joseph Weld was captain, representative from 1636, for five 
years. He was a rich man and kept store on the street. His 
property was valued at £2028: 11 : 03, He died the 8th of 7th 
nrronth, 1646. His widow married Anthony Stoddard of Boston. 
Sarah married John Ffranck of Boston, and Marah married 
Comfort Starr. 

John Weld, was born in England, Oct. 28, 1623, and came to. 
New England in 1638. He was made freeman in 1650. He 
was son of the preceding, and had a brother Edward. He mar- 
ried Margaret Bovven in 1647. His son Joseph was born June 
6, 1649, and died when only seventeen days old ; another child 
of the same name was baptized Sept. 13, 1650. His house was 
next to Robert Seaver's land, bounded on the brook and the high- 
way to Bare Marsh. He died Sept. 20, 1691. 

Daniel Weld was admitted freeman in 1641. He was admit- 
ted to our Church in 1651, being recommended from the Church 
at Braintree. His wife Alice died at Braintree in 1647. In 

1654, he was chosen by the town "to record births and burialls," 
and in 1654, clerk of the writs. He had a son Benjamin in 

1655. A daughter of his was born at Braintree in 1643, He 
settled at first on the Street, where he had a lot of three quarters 
of an acre on the East side of the Street, next to the Training 
field, betwepu Richard Woody's and Thomas Weld's, bin he af- 



Part I.] history of roxburv. 135 

lerwards bought a place of John Rawson, near Stony River 
Bridge, where he died July 22, 1666, at the age of 81. 

His will, which was executed but a few days before his death, 
names his wife Ann, Joseph and Belhial, also Timothy Hyde, a 
child of his wife. 

Daniel Weld was Teacher of the School. 

Laurence Whittamore came with his wife, in the Hopewell, in 
April, 1635, freeman 1637. His wife died 13th of the 12th 
month, 1642. He died the 18th of 7th month, 1644, "an anlient 
Christian of 80 years of age." I find no other trace of him, 
save in connection with the Free School, to which he gave all 
his estate, which is now very valuable. 

Robert Williams, who is said to have been of Welch origin, 
came iioin Norwich, England, and was admitted freeman in 
1638. His wife was named Elizabeth. They had a son Isaac, 
born Sept. 1, 1638; and Stephen, born Nov. 28, 1640. Another 
son, Samuel, who was afterwards deacon, was born before, in 
England. Thomas was born afterwards. Robert, it is said, is 
the "common ancestor of the divines, civilians and warriors of 
this name who have honored the country of their birth." His 
homestead of five acres was towards Dorchester. Some of his 
estate remained in the hands of his descendants till 1826. Rob- 
ert Williams was one of the most influential men in town affairs. 

Hannah Wilson died 12th of 9th, 1645. 

Thomas Willso7i came 4ih month, 1633, and brought children, 
Humphrey, Samuel, Joshua. Debora was born 1644, and Lidea 
in 1636. "He was a farailist afterwards, but repented." He re- 
moved from Roxbury. 

Nathaniel Wilson married Hannah Crafts in 1644. They had 
twins, Hannah and Mary, in 1647. 

Edvjard White had son Zaltariah, born 1642 ; Samuel, born 
Feb. 27ih, 1644. 

Richard Woody, freeman 1642, married Frances Dexter in 
1646. His son Thomas died in 1650. His house was next the 



136 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [pART 1. 

training place, between Mr. Eliot's and Daniel Weld's. He died 
in 1658. 

John Woody died in 1650. 

Nicholas Woody had twins, Mary and Sarah, born Dec. 26th, 
1642. 

Thomas Woodford, man servant, came in 1632, married Mary 
Blatt, maid servant, who came out the same year. They re- 
moved to Hartford, Conn. 

Nearly all the original emigrants to this country, had gone by 
the year 1700. 

In 1646, "died Egbor, an Indian who had lived ten years with 
the English, and could read." 

The same year, died "Nan, Mr. Weld's captive Indian, he 
was hopeful." 



CHAPTER X. 

General View of the Toum. 

Having thus noticed the first generation of the in- 
habitants of the town, let us see what was the gen- 
eral appearance of the town in those earlj days. 
Though there is no account of the first year or two, it 
is easy to imagine what it must have been during that 
time. The first settlement was upon the bay which 
lies to the south of Boston neck, and which was long 
known as Hoxbury Bay. 

No record is preserved of the first laying out of the 
town. There probably was no allotment of lands to 
the very first comers. After that, the lands were sur- 
veyed and set out regularly. 

In 1633, three years after the first arrival, we have 
this description of the town ; 

" A mile from this town, (Dorchester) lieth Roxberry. which is 
" a fair and handsome country-town, the inhabitants of it being 
" all very rich. This town iieth upon the main, so that it is well 
" wooded and watered, having a clear and fresh brook running 
" through the town, up which, although there come no alewives, 
" yet there is great store of smelts and therefore it is called 
" Smelt Brook. A quarter of a mile to the north side of the 
" town is another river, called Stony River; upon which is built a 
" water mill. Here is good ground for corn and meadow for cat- 
" lie. Up westward from the town it is something rocky; 
«' wheace it hath the name of Roxberry. The inhabitants have 

18 



138 HISTORY OF ROXBURT. [pART I. 

"fair houses, store of cattle, impaled corn-fields, and fruitful gar- 
" dens. Here is no harbor for ships, because ihe town is seated 
"in the bottom of a shallow ba}', which is made by the neck of 
"land on which Boston is built; so that they can transport all 
"their goods from the ships in boats from Boston, which is the 
" nearest harbor." 

The first buildings were probably upon what was 
then called and is still known as the Towne Streete, 
or Roxbury Street. It was near a good stream of 
water. The neck, with a bay on each side, was a 
favorable position for defence. 

The dwellings gradually extended to the point; 
across the brook, and towards Dorchester, and up in 
the direction of Warren and Walnut streets ; and 
round, by the old road over the hill by the first church, 
to the mill on Stony river, and on to Muddy river; 
and further up into the centre of the town, towards 
Dedham, and into the country between Dorchester 
and Dedham roads. The other streets, then most 
frequented, such as the road to Gamblin's End, Que- 
necticot lane, that to the mill at the great pond, have 
now become quite retired. Some, like that from the 
Plain towards Brookline, West of the great hill, 
have long been closed. 

In those days the highways were let for pasturage, 
by the year. For many years, a point on the street 
was known as " Boston Gates." The way '• leading 
to the landing place," was fenced across to keep in 
the cattle. A pair of bars stood at the entrjince of 
the way to the " Calves Pasture," which is now a 
great highway towards Dorchester, and also the road 
leading to Bare mar.vh, and Rocky swamp. Indeed, 
1 believe that was the case with all the roads in town. 



Part I."| history of roxbury. 139 

The town used to fix the rent by vote at the annual 
town mt^eting, and the constal)h's collected it. 

In 1635, a law was passed that no person should 
live beyond half a mile from the meeting house. 

The following petition, which was made before 
1643, indicates that most were within that distance, 
which was proper for defence. 

The humhle petition of some of ye inhabitants of Roxbury, to 
this honored Court. 
Whereas, it has pleased this honord court to make a whole- 
some law for this country, that none should build above half a 
mile from ye meelinq house, and we partly out of ye necessity 
of the situation of our town, wh is so narrow, and inlarged but 
one way, and partly out of ignorance of ye law, have builded 
somewhat farder than is by this law allowd, among such neigh- 
bors as were to be built before this law was maide, we doe hum- 
bly petition ye favor of this honord court that sd action might not 
be offensive, but yt wee might have allowans to continue the sd 
habitations, wh we cannot possibly alter without removing from 
ye town, there being noe place neare ye meeting howse to re- 
ceive us. And thus entreating your favor, we leave you to the 
guidans of the blessed God, and rest Your humble petitioners, 
Ralph Jasper Gun, 

Gary Robert Seaver, 

Abraham How, 
John Tatman. 
Considering ye necessity of the request of these brethren, we 
who have the disposeing of the towne affairs doe joyne wh them 
to make this humble request to this honord court. 

Thomas Lambe, 
Joseph Weld, 
John .Johnson, 
William Perkins, 
John Stow. 

No order appears on this petition. It is not known 
when the law was repealed, or that it ever was. It 



140 HiSTORt OF ROXBURT. [pART L 

is certain that, within a very few years, there were 
many who lived more than the prescribed distance 
from the church. 

From the beginning, the chief roads in the town 
seem to have been reguhuly laid out, thouo^h very 
many of the highways in the town were ways of ne- 
cessity, and formed as convenience required. 

In 1652, the five men with a committee of three 
more were appointed for setting and staking out high- 
ways, with full powers to settle all matters concern- 
ing them. 

In 1656, " the same day for stakeing out of all the 
•' hiewayes, in towne, there was a committee chosen 
" and fully impowered by the same, to settle matters, 
" concerning all hiewayes, according to the towns act 
^"when the land was laid out.'^^ 

1658. Griffin Crafts had " leave to set up a gate 
on Muddy River lane to keepe oiF the presse of cattle." 

From 1650 to 1662, several cases show that not 
only the breadth and direction, but even the very ex- 
istence of some of the highways had become ques- 
tionable. 

By a town law, each man was entitled to a high- 
way to his own house. 

In 1661, the town let the "feede of the lane to 
the landing place to Robert Pierrepoynt, for fower 
shillings per annum, provided none of the inhabitants 
are to be prohibired to lett their cattle feede as they 
goe to and fro for clay, or upon other just occasions, 
they feeding only in the lane, and whilst they are 
there necessarily employed, and in the cart, and not 
otherwise." 



Part l.J HisTonr of RoxBURr. 14t 

The town passed various acts to have the high 
ways examined, but without effect till in 1663, it ap- 
pointed five men, and "for their encouragement" 
gave them four shillings a man for this service, and 
laid them under a penalty of two pounds ten shillings 
if they did not finish the work by the first of January 
next. Accordingly a survey was had, and report at 
length was made that year, which is the one that is 
to be examined concerning the highways in existence 
at that time. 

Amongst the roads four rods wide, were that to 
Muddy River, (Washington street ;) Quenecticote 
Lane, (Perkins street ;) the road from Heath's Lane 
towards Dedham, (Centre street ;) the road from 
John Stebbin's orchard, by Edward Bugby\s, to the 
end of the great lots next Gamblin's End, and so to 
Rocky Swamp ; the way to the great lots and fresh 
meadow, (Walnut street ;) the way to Brantry, 
(Warren street ;) from Hugburne's Corner to Boston, 
and that from Eliot's Corner to Dorchester Brook, 
(Dudley street and Eustis street.) 

Those that were two rods, were that from Pier- 
pont's to the landing place, (Parker street. East of 
Brookline road ;) that from Mrs. Remington's, back 
of Ruggles and Eliot, to Dedham Highway, (Parker 
street,) over the Hill ; that by Peleg Heath's into 
Dedham highway, by Jacob Newell's ; that from El- 
der Heath's by Stony River, to Gamblin's End, 
(School street;) that from Gamblin's End to the 
Pond lots, (Boylston street ;) from John Leavin's 
heirs to Dead Swamp ; from the way that leads from 
the Boston road by the burying place to the road 



142 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. [PaRT I. 

from Roxbury to Dorchester, (Eustis street ;) from 
the Tr^Uiisg Place, next Dorchester road, down to 
the Salt Panns, and that landing place, (Davis st. ;) 
from Giles Payson's to Robert William's and into 
Brantry Way ; from Mr. Adam's to the, mills ; and 
the way to Baker's Mill; and the way to Gravelly 
Point, (Riigj^les street.) 

It is needless to speak of the religious character of 
the people. As for the education of the town, we 
have already seen that ample provision was made for 
it. Most of the people w^ere of good, and some of 
them of eminent families and of considerable cultiva- 
tion. Roxbury sent many to Harvard College. — 
Though the space of time does not seem very long 
that has elapsed, one is surprised, in the old lists, to 
find how few books they had. And yet, education 
may have been as well attained, for comparison of our 
times with those of the ancients^ might almost lead 
to the conclusion that sound learning decreased with 
the multiplicity of books. Thus Thomas Dudley, 
who was a vast reader, (heluo librorum) had in his 
study less than fifty volumes. Amongst them were 
Livius, Camdeni Annales, Abstract of the Penal 
Statutes, Peirce Plowman, Apology of the Prince of 
Orange, Cotton's bloody tenets washed, Cotton's 
holynesse of Church members and Commentary on 
the Commandments, &c. 

Daniel Weld, a "schoUar," had in Bibles and other 
Divinity Books, £4. 

It has already been remarked that the people were 
wealthy, and some account has been given of various 
estates. It must be borne in mind, however, that 



Part I.] history of roxburv. 143 

estimates are not to be made by the standard of the 
present day. As late as "1678, in New York, which 
then had less than three hundred and fifty houses, a 
merchant worth £1000 or £500, was deemed a good 
substantial merchant, and a planter worth half that 
sum, was accounted rich." Judged by the mark of 
that day, Roxbury had a great number of very opu- 
lent citizens. 

In 1654, the town is thus described : "situated be- 
" tween Boston and Dorchester, being well watered 
" with coole and pleasant Springs issuing forth the 
" Rocky-hills, and with small Freshets, watering the 
" V allies of this fertill Towne, whose forme is some- 
*' what like a w edge double pointed, entering be- 
" tweene the two foure named Townes, filled with a 
" laborious people, whose labours the Lord hath so 
" blest, that, in the roome of dismall swamps and 
" tearing bushes, they have very goodly Fruit-trees, 
" fruitfuU fields and gardens, their Heard of Cows, 
" Oxen and other young Cattell of that kind about 
" 350 and dwelling houses near upon 120. Their 
" Streetes are large, and some fayre bowses, yet have 
<' they built their Howse for Church-assembly desti- 
" tute and unbeautified with other buildings. The 
"church of Christ is here increased to about 120 
" persons," &;c. 

The emigration to New England ceased almost 
entirely about 1640. Though a few came over from 
the old countries after that time, yet most of the new 
settlers in Roxbury, came from other parts of this 
country. 



14 i HISTORY OF ROXBIJKT. PaRT I.] 

Some of the original reside r.ts removed to other 
places, as did many of their descendants. Several 
towns were founded by Roxbury citizens. 

Mann, in his Annals of Dedham, states that "the 
"original founders of Dedham came from Watertown 
"and Roxbury," in 1635. 

In 1636, the time of the emigration to the Con- 
necticut, a colony "from Roxbury (the principal of 
" whom were Mr. William Pynchon, and one John 
"Bur, a carpenter,) settled, at least laid the founda- 
" tion of a plantation, called by the Indians, Aga- 
" wam, but named by the English afterwards Spring- 
" field, in rembrance of Mr. Pynchon, who had his 
" mansion house at a town of that name, near 
" Chelmsford, in Essex." Many went to various 
towns in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, 
where there are many of their descendants. 

"In 1667, liberty was granted for erecting a new 
plantation or township, at a place about thirty or 
forty miles West from Roxbury called Mendon, and 
peopled by some that removed from thence. There 
was another like grant the same year at Brookfield, a 
commodious place for entertainment of travellers, be- 
twixt the Massachusetts and Connecticut, situate 
about twenty-five miles from Springfield, towards 
Boston; the liberty had been granted before in 1660, 
but it was renewed this year, six or seven families 
being settled there, the grantees having forfeited 
their first grant." "These two last named villages 
were erected in an unhappy hour, for before ten years 
were expired, they were utterly ruined and destroyed 



Part 1.] history of roxbury. 145 

by the Indians, and not one stick left standing of any 
building erected there." 

In Niles' history ol the Indian and French wars, 
it is said "Deserted Mendon was this same winter 
(1674) laid in ashes." 

In 1683, the town accepted the grant, which was 
made to them that year, of a tract seven miles square, 
at Quatosset, in the country of the Nipmucks. This 
was, soon after, called New Roxbury, and is now the 
Town of Woodstock, in the North-east part of the 
State of Connecticut, near Dudley, in Massachusetts. 
Some of the localities in Woodstock still bear the old 
names of places in Roxbury. This township was 
bounded by Woodward and Gaffeny's line, and was 
afterwards found to be in Connecticut. 

The first settlers of Woodstock were, as has been 
remarked, all from Roxbury, and the records of the 
foundation, settlement, titles, division, and the first 
settlers of the place are preserved, very full and mi- 
nute, in Roxbury. But the history cannot be given 
here. 

In 1668, Worcester was granted to Daniel Gookin 
and others. 

Oxford, then " a tract eight miles square in the 
Nipmug country," was granted to Joseph Dudley and 
others in 1682. 

Woodstock was named from " its nearness to Ox- 
" ford, for the sake of queen Elizabeth, and the nota- 
" ble meetings that have been held at the place bear- 
*' ing that name in England." 

In 1686, several native Indians conveyed to Joshua 
Lamb, Nathaniel Paige, Andrew Gardner, Benjamin 
19 



146 HISTORY OF ROXBURY. PaRT I.] 

Gamblin, John Curtis, Richard Draper, Samuel Rug- 
gles and Ralph Bradish, " a tract of land eight miles 
square near the English town of Wooster." This is 
the present town of Hardivicke. The original deed is 
still preserved in Roxbury. The price paid was £20. 

Dudleyy in this state, was granted to and named 
for governor Joseph Dudley. He got also the Indian 
title. 

Ancient plans, letters from these towns, deeds, &c. 
are found in Roxbury. 

Besides those towns which were founded and set- 
tled by Roxbury, others had some of their chief set- 
tlers from Roxbury; such as Scituate, Braintree, 
Newbury, and several others in Massachusetts and 
Connecticut. 

Thus Roxbury was not only abundantly prosperous 
herself, but was the worthy parent of a very respec- 
table and somewhat numerous progeny, of towns. 



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